PIVE  YEARS 

BEFORE  THE  MAST; 


OB, 


JLife  ty  flje 


ABOARD    OF 


A  WHALER  AND  MAN-OF-WAR. 


BEAUTIFULLY    ILLU8TBATBD. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

WILLIS     P.    HAZAED 

724    CHESTNUT    STREET. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  18M,  by 
WILLIS    P.    HAZARD, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  Diatri"* 
of  Pennsylvania. 


TO  THE 

HONORABLE  JAMES  POLLOCK, 

LATE    JUDGE    OF    THE    EIGHTH    JUDICIAL    DISTRICT 

OP   THE 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  PENNSYLVANIA, 

THESE     PAGES   ARE     RESPECTFULLY   INSCRIBED, 
BY   HIS    SINCERE   FRIBND, 

JACOB   A.    HAZEN. 
MOKCV,  PA.,  OOTOBEE  12th,  1858. 


2034510 


CHAPTER  I. 

In  which  the*  reader  will  discover  that  the  best  remedy  for 
"hard  times"  is  to  go  to  sea 13 

CHAPTER  II. 
Voyage  to  Sag  Harbor,  and  Adventures  on  Long  Island,    84 

CHAPTER  III. 
First  appearance  on  the  Atlantic  ocean,  and  visit  to  Fayal,     58 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Containing  something  the  writer  never  knew  until  he  went 
to  sea, 75 

CHAPTER  V. 

In  which  the  writer  makes  further  progress  in  his  cruise, 
and  discovers  that  fortunes  are  not  more  rapidly  reali- 
zed at  sea  than  on  land, 92 

CHAPTER  VI. 

*n  which  the  writer,  without  being  shipwrecked,  finds 
himself  unexpectedly  cast  away  upon  a  foreign  land,  108 

1*  (T) 


vi  CONTENTS. 

MM 
CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Jour.  Shoemaker,  having  abandoned  the  sea,  estab- 
lishes himself  iii  the  capital  of  Brazil, 122 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Jour.  Shoemaker, bidding  good-bye  to  the  bench,  takes 
again  to  salt  water,  and  is  sent  on  board  a  ship  against 

his  own  consent, 140 

. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  adventurer  introduces  himself  on  board  an  American 
man-of-war,  and  becomes  a  member  of  "  Uncle  Sam's 
Mess," 167 

CHAPTER  X. 

In  which  the  Jour.  Shoemaker  finds  himself  overreached 
by  a  Commodore,  and  seeks  his  revenge  in  a  diplomatic 
despatch  to  Uncle  Sam, 177 

CHAPTER  XI. 

A  very  short  chapter,  in  which  the  Jour's  diplomacy  be- 
gins to  thicken, 197 

CHAPTER  XII. 

In  which  the  adventurer  becomes  a  heathen,  and  after  be- 
ing visited  in  vain  by  a  Boston  missionary,  is  introda 
ced  to  the  cat-o'-nine  tails, 208 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

In  which  the  Jour.  Shoemaker  is  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
ship's  pedagogue, 227 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

An  Unexpected  Journey 246 

CHAPTER  XV. 

In  which  the  Jour.  Shoemaker  finds  himself  destined  for 
a  distant  portion  of  the  world, 264 

CHAPTER  XVL 
Voyage  to  Gibraltar, 280 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

In  which  the  adventurer,  by  interesting  himself  in  a 
mutiny,  meets  with  rather  rough  treatment, 305 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

In  which  our  mechanic  sailor  sees  a  good  deal  of  stormy 
weather,  and  gets  a  peep  at  Mount  Etna, 325 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
A  Tankee  mechanic  on  a  sailor's  beat,  in  Naples, 343 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Adventures  at  Port  Mahon, 367 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
In  which   the  adventurer  abandons  the  mess-room   of    • 


viii  CONTENTS. 


PAOI 


Uncle  Sam,  and  takes  up  a  brief  residence  on  the  Island 
of  Minorca, 393 

CHAPTER  XXIL 

In  which  the  adventures  of  our  young  mechanic  draw 
towards  a  close, 414 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Containing  the  writer's  final  leave  of  the  reader,  as  well 
as  of  his  mistress, 489 


THE  original  articles  forming  a  portion  of  the  material 
out  of  which  this  volume  is  compiled,  were  partly  drawn 
up  by  the  writer  during  the  year  1842,  shortly  after 
obtaining  his  discharge  from  the  navy.  The  idea  of 
writing  a  book  was  then  altogether  foreign  to  his  inten- 
tion, as  he  possessed  neither  the  time  nor  the  inclination 
to  attempt  it.  Subsequent  events,  however,  as  well  as 
the  repeated  solicitations  of  friends,  having  concurred 
to  stimulate  him  to  the  project,  he  was  finally  induced 
during  the  preceding  summer,  to  take  up  his  papers  for 
reconsideration.  Discovering  in  them  some  passages 
which  he  deemed  sufficiently  interesting  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  general  reader,  he  applied  himself  to 
the  task  of  revising  them,  and  after  a  few  months  of 
patient  labor,  has  ventured  to  lay  them  before  the  pub- 
lic, in  their  present  form. 

It  is  proper  to  observe  that  the  names  which  figure 
in  the  pages  of  this  journal,  are  those  of  real  persons. 
This  circumstance  may  call  forth  the  resentment  of  a 

(*) 


x  PREFACE. 

few  of  our  naval  officers,  who  may  fancy  themselves 
aggrieved  in  having  a  small  portion  of  their  conduct 
dragged  before  the  public.  They  may  wince  at  the 
animadversions  which  now  and  then  touch  severely  upon 
them,  and  may  even  call  it  abuse.  But  let  it  be  remem- 
bered, that  as  public  officers,  their  acts  are  a  species  of 
public  property  which  the  writer  or  any  other  citizen, 
has  at  all  times  an  indisputable  right  to  examine  and 
scrutinize.  Beyond  official  conduct,  the  journalist  has 
not  presumed  to  venture.  He  holds  the  sanctuary  of 
private  life  too  sacred  to  be  wantonly  invaded,  and 
would  be  among  the  last  to  assail  the  character  of  even 
the  most  profligate  commander,  or  lieutenant,  out  of  his 
official  capacity. 

It  is  a  circumstance  worthy  of  note,  that  literary  pro- 
ductions from  the  pens  of  naval  officers,  annually  find 
their  way  before  the  public,  in  the  shape  of  books,  some 
of  which,  not  only  reflect  largely  to  the  merits  of  the 
writers,  but  occupy  a  deservedly  high  position  in  the 
literature  of  our  country.  This  is  as  it  should  be.  But 
while  these  productions  are  emanating  from  behind  the 
mast,  with  what  are  we  greeted  from  before  it  ?  While 
the  officer  steals  his  way  into  public  favor  in  a  voice 
modulated  to  the  richest  tones  of  art,  what  do  we  hear 
from  the  less  cultivated,  though  no  less  brave  subordi- 
nate? We  daily  amuse  ourselves  with  lengthened  details 
of  gorgeous  cabin  scenes— of  epaulet  adventures,  and 
cocked  hats — of  the  effervescent  flow  of  rich  Burgundy 


PREFACE.  xi 

and  Champagnes ;  but  what  do  we  hear  from  the  fore- 
castle— of  poor  Jack,  his  rye  whiskey,  and  his  bean 
Boup  ?  Not  one  word  !  Few  generous  writers  venture 
to  speak  out  for  him.  The  poor  fellow  seems  completely 
lost  sight  of  behind  the  tinseled  uniform  of  his  more 
gaudy  superior ;  and  while  we  are  ready  to  laugh  our- 
selves into  convulsions  over  the  more  graceful  and 

voluble  "d n  your  eyes"  of  the  officer,  we  cannot 

bring  ourselves  to  hear  the  half  indignant  sigh  escaping 
in  smothered  whispers  from  the  bosom  of  the  humble 
Tar  on  whom  it  is  bestowed.  The  present  volume  pur- 
ports to  show  up  a  few  touches  of  the  picture  on  the 
humbler  side  of  the  mast — to  delineate  the  thoughts  and 
feelings  of  one  whose  person  stood  in  the  back  ground — 
of  one  of  those  whose  duty  it  is  never  to  speak  out,  but 
always  to  do,  feel,  fight,  and  suffer. 

How  far  the  author  may  have  succeeded  in  producing 
an  interesting  work,  is  of  course,  not  for  him  to  decide. 
As  a  mechanic,  and  one  of  the  toiling  million  who  earn 
their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  the  brow,  he  is  conscious 
that  it  must  necessarily  be  defective — if  not  in  subject 
matter,  at  least  in  thought,  style,  and  composition ;  for 
it  is  scarcely  to  be  supposed  that  literary  perfection 
should  emanate  from  the  work-bench,  or  that  a  common 
shoemaker  or  sailor — whichever  you  will — should  write 
with  the  propriety  and  grace  of  an  Irving.  Hence,  it 
will  become  him  to  keep  a  bright  lookout  ahead  for 
"breakers"  in  the  "reviews;"  and  should  critical 


xii  PREFACE. 

assailants  pen  him  too  closely,  he  will,  doubtless,  be 
compelled  to  meet  them  mechanically,  or,  in  other 
words,  withdraw  from  his  desultory  rambles  in  the 
flowery  fields  of  literature,  and  betake  himself  once 
more  to  delving  in  the  gloomy  corners  of  his  humble 
shop.  However,  the  pungent  arrows  of  criticism  will 
not  afflict  him  very  mortally,  as  he  is  far  from  being  a 
professional  book  maker,  and  seldom  moves  in  that 
sphere  of  life  where  they  would  be  likely  to  reach  him. 


f  i 


In  which  the  reader  will  discover  that  the  best  remedy  for  aard 
times  is  to  go  to  sea. 

I  SHALL  not  enter  into  a  history  of  my  early  life, 
as  there  is  perhaps  little  in  it  that  would  prove  in- 
teresting or  instructive  to  the  general  reader.  It 
will  be  sufficient  to  state,  that  like  most  poor  boys 
of  humble  parentage,  I  was  permitted  to  grow  up 
pretty  much  after  my  own  fashion,  without  the 
advantages  of  either  advice  or  instruction.  At  the 
age  of  five  years,  I  was  placed  out  to  earn  my  own 
living  among  strangers.  Occasionally  I  resided  at 
home,  at  which  times  I  usually  did  much  as  I 
pleased,  went  where  I  pleased,  and  returned  when 
I  pleased.  It  had  pleased  my  father,  during  my 
minority,  to  indent  me  as  an  apprentice,  to  an 
old  cobbler,  by  whom  I  was,  to  a  slight  extent, 
initiated  into  the  arts  and  mysteries  of  boot  and 
shoe  making  ;  but  like  most  apprentices,  I  soon 
fancied  that  I  knew  more  of  the  trade  than  my  old 
master,  and  as  soon  as  the  idea  took  possession  of 
my  mind,  I  very  deliberately  walked  off,  declaring 
2  (13) 


14         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

myself  free  and  independent  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses in  law.  Having  learned  to  read  a  little,  and 
having  scratched  pot  hooks  for  eleven  dajs  at 
school,  I  believed  myself  sufficiently  educated  to 
tmsh  my  own  fortunes  in  the  world,  and  accord- 
ingly at  the  early  age  of  seventeen,  I  bid  farewell 
to  Muncy,  Pa.,  the  place  of  my  nativity,  and  took 
my  departure  for  parts  unknown.  For  several 
years  I  continued  rambling  about  various  portions 
of  the  States,  drifting  hither  and  thither  with  the 
changing  current  of  the  times,  until  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  I  found  myself  unexpectedly  lodged 
amid  a  regular  drift  pile  of  journeymen  shoemakers, 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  Here  I  continued 
hammering  away  at  my  trade  for  some  time,  and 
would,  perhaps,  have  made  the  city  my  permanent 
place  of  residence  had  events  proved  favorable.  But 
unluckily,  I  always  found  my  fortunes  strangely 
influenced  by  circumstances.  As  they  were  never  of 
a  very  stupendous  character,  a  trifling  circumstance 
was  at  all  times  enough  to  derange  them ;  but 
when  any  unexpected  event  transpired,  they  were 
entirely  scattered  at  once,  after  which  I  had  usu- 
ally to  resort  to  my  never  failing  resources,  two 
hands  and  nine  fingers,  (one  being  cut  off,)  in 
order  to  renew  them. 

The  spring  of  1837  set  in  with  a  prospect  to  the 
Philadelphians  at  least,  of  an  extensive  business. 
The  manufacturers  and  merchants  had  commenced 
the  season  with  high  hopes  and  extensive  prepa>a- 


FIVE  YBAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         15 

tions,  and  it  was  not  until  the  eastern  banks  had 
suspended  specie  payments  that  they  felt  their 
expectations  likely  to  end  in  disappointment.  The 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  Banks  soon  followed 
the  example  of  their  eastern  neighbors,  and  the 
epidemic  spreading  towards  Baltimore  and  Charles- 
ton, soon  extended  itself  throughout  the  whole 
Union.  Then  followed  a  panic  and  distress,  such 
as  were  never  before  paralleled  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Shinplasters  soon  made  their  ap- 
pearance, and  with  them  came  a  general  wreck  and 
ruin  of  the  mercantile  and  manufacturing  business 
of  the  city. 

Many  people  of  the  present  day,  and  especially 
those  remote  from  the  cities,  believe  that  the  reports 
of  the  havoc  of  business,  and  the  distress  of  citizens 
that  followed  in  the  train  of  the  bank  explosions  of 
183T,  have  been  greatly  exaggerated  by  interested 
parties,  and  that  the  distress  was  far  less  prevalent 
than  -represented ;  but  to  the  inquiring  reader,  who 
chooses  to  examine  the  records  of  the  past,  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  lamentable  and  painful  examples 
will  present  themselves  to  verify  their  truth. 

Amidst  the  general  distress  which  prevailed,  it 
could  scarcely  be  expected  that  the  shoe  manu- 
facturers should  stand  impregnable,  and  indeed 
they  did  not.  On  the  contrary,  many  of  them 
were  among  the  first  to  wind  up  their  affairs,  close 
their  shop  doors,  and  label  them  with  the  significant 
motto,  "Gone  to  Texas."  My  employer  was 


16         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

among  the  last  to  give  up  the  ghost.  He  held  out 
for  awhile  with  the  courage  of  a  gladiator  ;  but 
the  monetary  cholera  at  last  siezed  upon  him,  and 
notwithstanding  his  struggles,  kept  cramping  him 
tighter  and  tighter,  until  at  the  ninth  hour  he 
collapsed  with  a  terrible  explosion,  and  away  went 
boots,  bootees,  shoes  and  brogans,  to  the  busy 
hammer  of  the  auctioneer.  Myself  and  the  rest 
of  the  journeymen  were  dismissed,  an  assignment 
was  made,  the  doors  of  the  shop  were  shut  up,  and 
the  establishment  pronounced  defunct. 

Under  these  adverse  circumstances,  what  was  I 
to  do?  I  to  whom  a  loss  of  employment  was  a 
loss  of  fortune.  Hunt  work  elsewhere,  was  the 
idea  at  first  suggested ;  but  where  the  number  of 
workmen  is  great,  and  the  quantity  of  work  small, 
one's  chance  of  success  is  about  as  .uncertain  as  a 
prize  in  a  lottery.  Two  weeks  were  spent  in  fruit- 
less search  of  employment,  and  I  then  gave  it  up 
as  a  total  failure.  After  a  few  days'  intermission 
I  once  more  ventured  abroad,  and  called  at  about 
a  dozen  shops  in  the  Northern  Liberties,  where  I 
had  not  been  before,  asking  if  they  had  work  to 
give,  but  the  universal  answer  was  "  no  !"  I  soon 
became  tired  of  fishing  about  in  this  manner  to  no 
purpose,  and  determined  to  hunt  round  after  some 
kind  of  amusement,  with  which  to  occupy  my 
thoughts,  but  I  could  find  nothing  which  I  con- 
ceived agreeable.  Discouraged,  disheartened,  and 
moneyless — a  boarding  bill  accumulating  from  day 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         17 

to  day,  with  no  prospect  of  ever  being  able  to  dig- 
charge  it — was  it  possible  for  me  to  feel  happy  and 
cheerful  ?  Far  from  it !  I  felt  most  wretchedly 
dejected  ;  and  as  to  amusements.  I  could  think  of 
none  which  I  believed  better  fitted  to  harmonize 
with  my  present  feelings  than  seeing  some  one 
hanged.  Suiting  the  action  to  the  thought,  I 
sallied  forth  into  Callowhill  street,  and  directed 
my  way  to  Bush  Hill,  where  I  arrived  in  time  to 
witness  the  completion  of  a  gallows,  erected  for 
the  execution  of  an  unfortunate  young  man  named 
Moran.  This  was  about  the  middle  of  May,  1837, 
not  so  memorable  with  me  from  the  circumstance 
of  a  man  going  to  be  hanged  for  piracy,  as  from 
the  fact  that  for  once  in  my  life  I  was  unable  to 
find  employment. 

The  execution  over,  the  multitude  gradually 
dispersed.  I,  with  feelings  little  improved  by  the 
exhibition  I  had  witnessed,  returnejl  leisurely  to 
the  city.  Every  thing  about  me  appeared  to  bear 
a  sad  and  cheerless  aspect.  The  day,  however, 
was  clear  and  delightful  to  those  who  could  enjoy 
it ;  for  the  sun,  in  cloudless  majesty,  shone  from 
the  azure  heavens,  as  if  smiling  with  his  most 
pleasant  aspect  on  the  beautiful,  prolific,  and  teem- 
ing world  below. 

That  night  I  retired  to  enjoy  but  a  broken  and 

painful  rest.     The  events  of  the  day  haunted  me 

in   my  slumbers,  constantly  conjuring  up   every 

species  of  wild  and  fantastical  dreams.     At  last 

2* 


18         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE"  THE  MAST. 

the  morning  arrived ;  I  arose  with  a  feverish  brow 
and  a  heated  brain. 

Disagreeable  as  the  night  had  been  to  me,  it 
was  still  attended  with  one  important  result.  It 
was  while  lying  in  a  "  brown  study,"  during  the 
intervals  between  my  dreams,  that  I  first  conceived 
the  project  of  going  to  sea.  What  put  this  wild 
idea  into  my  head,  I  am  at  present  unable  to  say. 
I  never  before  had  any  inclination  for  a  sea-faring 
life,  nor  had  I  ever  looked  upon  a  crew  getting  a 
vessel  under  weigh,  but  that  my  thoughts  immedi- 
ately familiarized  themselves  with  shipwrecks,  hur- 
ricanes, and  other  disasters  of  the  sea.  But  the 
truth  is,  a  change  seemed  to  have  come  over  the 
spirit  of  my  life.  I  wanted  to  hit  upon  some  plan 
to  make  a  fortune  ;  and  as  the  world  had  hitherto 
been  unfavorable  to  my  wishes,  I  thought  I  would 
try  to  get  out  of  it  by  going  to  sea.  Who  could 
tell  what  a  new  element  might  not  bring  forth  ? 
In  looking  back  on  my  land  career,  I  perceived 
that  five  years  had  already  expired  since  I  first 
began  to  push  my  own  fortunes  in  the  world,  and 
yet  I  had  accumulated  nothing.  It  is  true  that 
when  I  first  started  abroad,  I  had  but  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  in  money,  an  indifferent  suit  of 
clothes,  and  one  change  of  shirts;  I  had  now  two 
suits  of  clothing,  a  full  half  dozen  of  linen,  and 
no  money.  In  the  former  case,  what  I  had  was 
clearly  my  own ;  in  the  latter  I  was  yet  indebted 
to  my  tailor  for  a  portion  T)f  my  wardrobe,  beside 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         19 

owing  my  landlady  for  three  weeks'  boarding ; 
so  that  it  required  a  nice  calculation  to  tell  if  I 
were  advancing  or  receding  in  worldly  prosperity. 
I  had,  perhaps,  acquired  something  in  point  of 
worldly  knowledge,  and  improved  a  little  in  pen- 
manship and  reading;  but  whether  any  of  these 
added  aught  to  my  stock  of  wisdom,  is  very 
doubtful.  In  fact,  wisdom  was  entirely  out  of  the 
question  with  me.  In  all  my  actions  and  move- 
ments, there  were  seldom  any  pauses  to  consult 
either  wisdom  or  prudence.  I  was  the  mere  crea- 
ture of  whim.  Whenever  I  made  up  my  mind  to 
go  to  a  new  place,  I  was  up  and  off  at  once,  with- 
out pausing  to  reason  upon  the  advantages  or  dis- 
advantages likely  to  result  from  the  journey.  ?I 
had  now  made  up  my  mind  to  go  to  sea,  and  go  to 
sea  I  would,  Crusoe  like,  without  any  other  object 
in  view  than  the  vague  idea  of  hitting  on  some 
plan  to  make  a  fortune. 

After  adjusting  my  dress,  and  plunging  my  head 
into  a  basin  of  cold  water,  to  allay  its  feverishness, 
I  proceeded  to  the  shop  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
my  new  project  into  execution.  I  now  sat  down 
on  my  work-bench  to  study  out  what  plan  to  pur- 
sue. There  was  a  man  named  Wrighter,  who  kept 
a  shipping  office  and  rendezvous,  in  Water  street, 
below  Dock,  and  who  was  at  that  time  hunting  up 
men  to  go  on  whaling  voyages  from  New  Bedford. 
To  this  man  I  thought  of  resorting  for  a  berth  in  a 
whale  ship.  But,  then,  in  my  journey  to  the  east- 


20         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

ward,  I  would  have  to  pass  through  New  York,  and 
my  organ  of  self-esteem  was  too  predominant  to 
permit  me  to  go' in  a  beggarly  manner.  What  was 
to  he  done  ?  I  was  anxious  to  pa"y  up  old  scores  in 
the  city,  before  I  left  it,  and  this  I  could  only  do 
by  selling  my  clothing  ;  and  I  was  desirous  of  cut- 
ting a  respectable  figure  in  my  journey  to  New 
Bedford,  and  this  I  could  only  do  by  retaining  my 
clothing.  Here  was  certainly  not  a  very  happy 
combination  of  circumstances.  If  I  parted  with 
my  clothing,  my  appearance  was  likely  to  partake 
but  scantily  of  the  aristocratical ;  and  if  I  re- 
tained it  somebody  was  sure  to  come  out  minus 
one  half  the  value  of  it.  I  finally  concluded  to 
c^pry  one  half  of  my  wardrobe  to  the  pawn  bro- 
kers, pay  off  my  debts  as  far  as  the  proceeds  would 
go,  and  let  community  suffer  for  the  balance.  This 
I  did  immediately.  I  then  paid  my  landlady's  bill 
as  well  as  my  other  trifling  debts,  and  found  my- 
self still  in  possession  of  a  surplus  fund  of  five 
dollars.  It  must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind,  that 
my  tailor  was  not  yet  paid.  His  bill  was  nine 
dollars,  and  my  ingenuity  was  of  too  dull  a  char- 
acter to  manage  this  sum  with  a  five  dollar  bill. 
I,  however,  thought  it  wrong  to  sink  the  poor 
fellow  altogether,  and  fixed  upon  a  plan  by  which 
he  might  be  enabled  to  keep  his  head  above  water, 
if  he  felt  disposed  to  do  so.  Among  the  articles 
which  I  had  placed  in  pawn,  at  old  uncle  Mor- 
decai's,  was  a  vry  fine  overcoat,  for  which  I  had 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         21 

received  nine  dollars,  but  the  real  value  of  which 
was  near  twenty-five.  The  certificate  of  this  de- 
posit, I  sent  in  a  letter  to  my  tailor,  with  instruc- 
tions, that  if  he  wanted  what  I  owed  him,  to 
redeem  the  coat,  and  sell  it  for  its  full  value,  by 
which  means  he  might  obtain  the  principal  of  his 
demand,  together  with  a  handsome  interest. 

Having  thus  arranged  my  financial  affairs,  I 
adjusted  my  remaining  property  in  a  hand  trunk  ; 
made  a  distribution  of  my  tools  among  those  of 
my  shopmates  who  had  yet  employment;  bid  fare- 
well to  my  landlady,  who  expressed  deep  regret  at 
seeing  me  depart  on  my  break-neck  adventure,  and 
took  up  my  line  of  march  for  the  rendezvous  of 
Captain  Wrighter.  The  day  was  far  advanced  by 
the  time  I  reached  the  shipping  office,  and  before 
I  had  completed  my  bargain  with  the  captain,  the 
shades  of  evening  began  to  envelope  the  city. 
Wrighter  had  prepared  beds  for  most  of  his  gait- 
water  votaries,  but  as  I  had  slept  ill  the  night 
before,  I  resolved  for  that  night  at  least  to  seek 
my  own  lodgings  elsewhere. 

On  the  following  morning,  with  buoyant  spirits 
and  exulting  thoughts,  such  as  are  generally  inspi- 
red by  the  prospect  of  wild  adventure  in  a  youthful 
and  romantic  mind,  I  repaired  at  an  early  hour  to 
the  shipping  office.  Wrighter  was  already  mar- 
shalling his  troops  for  their  march  eastward.  In 
an  hour  afterwards  our  luggage  was  packed  in  a 
hand-cart,  and  hauled  to  the  ferry.  The  roll  was 


22         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

then  called,  and  all  hands  being  found  present,  we 
got  on  the  boat,  in  company  with  the  shipping- 
master,  and  passed  over  to  Caraden.  The  loco- 
motive was  already  letting  off  steam,  the  passen- 
gers were  there,  and  the  conductor  was  only 
awaiting  the  approach  of  the  hour  of  departure  to 
ring  the  bell. 

At  this  time  I  took,  as  I  then  thought,  my  last 
look  at  Philadelphia.  Those  beautiful  edifices, 
streets,  and  public  walks,  that  have  proved  the 
admiration  of  thousands,  lay  spread  like  a  chart 
before  me,  but  I  felt  no  regret  in  leaving  them. 
They  had  already  lost  all  charm  to  me,  and  a 
strange  joy  thrilled  through  my  heart  at  the  pros- 
pect of  quitting  a  place  whose  pomp,  wealth,  and 
marble  structures  seemed  like  so  many  mockeries 
at  my  own  poverty  and  insignificance.  In  truth,  I 
was  now  going  to  make  my  fortune  ;  all  behind  was 
cold,  dark,  and  cheerless — all  before  me  bright, 
clear,  and  auspicious. 

While  awaiting  the  departure  of  the  cars,  I 
must  say  that  I  felt  considerably  chagrined  at  my 
situation.  My  companions,  consisting  of  about 
twenty  men,  were  decidedly,  to  my  mind,  the 
roughest  looking  set  of  fellows  that  I  had  ever 
fallen  in  with.  When  I  cast  my  eyes  around  on 
the  respectable  appearance  of  the  rest  of  the  pas- 
sengers, and  then  on  these,  the  contrast  was  abso- 
lutely awful ;  and  I  began  to  wonder  if  I  must 
really  go  to  sea  in  the  same  ship  with  these  pirati 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         28 

cal  looking  fellows.  Besides,  one  half  of  them 
were,  to  all  appearance,  topers ;  for  while  I  was 
taking  a  survey  of  their  movements,  and  drawing 
a  comparison  between  their  dirty,  tattered  gar- 
ments and  my  own  best  draft  on  the  tailor,  I  saw 
three,  of  them  empty  a  pint  bottle  of  apple  jack, 
Jersey  lightning,  or  some  other  equally  nauseous 
distillation.  "  Must  I,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  ride  in 
the  same  car  with  these  scamps  ?"  At  that  par- 
ticular moment  I  thrust  my  hand  into  my  silk 
vest  pocket,  and  felt  the  five  dollar  bill,  and  for  an 
instant  I  thought  of  paying  an  additional  half  dollar 
for  a  seat  in  one  of  the  first  class  cars ;  but,  upon 
second  thought,  I  determined  otherwise.  "Five 
dollars,"  said  I,  "  may  some  day  have  an  end." 
To  my  companions,  the  most  of  whom  looked  as  if 
they  had  seen  nothing  larger  than  a  fip-penny-bit 
for  the  last  six  months,  so  large  a  sum  might 
indeed  have  seemed  a  wonderful  windfall,  yet  to 
me  it  appeared  a  sum  which  should  be  expended 
with  caution.  I  felt  that  economy  was  becoming  a 
necessary  ingredient  in  the  preservation  of  my 
remaining  fortune.  Even  fortunes  of  five  thousand 
dollars  are  often  squandered  away  foolishly  ;  and  I 
was  convinced  that  without  a  due  regard  to  pru- 
dence and  economy,  I  might  again  be  brought  to 
poverty  and  want. 

At  length  the  bell  rang,  and  the  passengers 
mounted  the  cars.  I  took  good  care  to  mount  on 
the  side  opposite  to  where  my  companions  entered. 


24         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

A  car  had  been  provided  expressly  for  Wrighter  and 
his  party,  and  in  this  we  all  took  our  seats.  As 
there  was  an  abundance  of  room,  we  were  not  in 
danger  of  being  much  crowded  ;  and  I  was  confi- 
dent that  our  appearance  was  not  of  so  attractive 
a  character  as  to  draw  much  of  a  crowd  from  the 
first  class  cars.  For  my  own  part,  I  congratulated 
myself  on  the  dimensions  of  the  car,  as  by  its  size 
I  was  enabled  to  occupy  one  corner  of  it  in  undis- 
turbed tranquillity.  Here  I  had  sat  for  nearly  half 
an  hour,  beating  a  tattoo  with  the  toe  of  my  boot 
on  the  bottom  of  the  car,  and  listening  to  the  train 
as  it  rumbled  along  the  track,  when  my  amuse- 
ments were  interrupted  by  the  abrupt  appearance 
of  a  bottle  of  whiskey,  accompanied  by  a  face 
which  I  had  not  noticed  before.  It  occurred  to  me 
that  my  visitor  must  be  an  intruder  from  the  first 
class  cars ;  but  when  I  saw  him  deposit  his  bottle 
in  a  valise,  and  take  his  seat  opposite  to  me,  I  was 
satisfied  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  our  party,  was  a  fish 
caught  in  Captain  Wrighter's  net.  I  soon  managed 
to  strike  up  a  discourse  with  him,  in  which  I 
learned  that  his  name  was  Hatfield ;  that  he  was 
a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  that  he  had  been  work- 
ing in  Philadelphia,  where  the  bank  explosions  had 
blown  him  sky-high  ;  and  that,  like  myself,  he  was 
now  going  to  sea,  in  a  whale-ship,  with  the  hope 
of  bettering  his  fortunes.  I  soon  conceived  a 
fancy  for  my  new  acquaintance.  His  external 
appearance,  together  with  a  gentlemanly  address 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         25 

and  ease  of  manners,  rendered  him  so  superior  to 
those  with  whom  we  were  both  associated,  that  I 
spared  no  efforts  in  cultivating  his  friendship.  .By 
the  time  we  reached  Brunswick,  we  were  sworn 
companions,  and  determined,  if  possible,  to  go  to 
sea  together,  in  the  same  ship. 

About  three  o'clock,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1837, 
we  were  landed  at  New  York,  on  the  North  river 
side,  somewhere  above  Castle  Garden.  Here  we 
found  that  our  shipping  master,  Captain  Wrighter, 
was  but  a  sub-agent  for  the  whaling  companies, 
the  real  agent  being  a  man  in  New  York,  named 
Taylor,  who  was  on  the  wharf,  ready  to  receive  us. 
A  transfer  of  credentials  now  took  place,  after 
which  all  Mr.  Wrighter's  live  stock,  baggage, 
goods,  and  chattels,  were  delivered  over  to  Mr. 
Taylor.  This  change  of  masters  completed,  and 
the  premium  money  paid  on  the  number  of  heads 
sold  and  delivered,  Captain  Wrighter  bid  us  good 
bye,  and  returned  to  Philadelphia  in  the  evening 
train. 

We  were  now  drawn  up  in  double  file  for  a 
march  through  the  city,  to  the  East  river,  where 
Taylor  had  his  office.  Hatfield  and  I,  being  the 
most  respectable  in  outward  appearance,  were 
placed  in  front,  while  our  luggage,  which  was 
loaded  on  a  truck,  preceded  us  to  our  new  rendez- 
vous. I  do  not  know  the  names  of  the  several 
streets  through  which  we  paraded  in  our  short  jour- 
ney, but  I  remember  distinctly  of  passing  Holt'a 
3 


26         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

Hotel.  I  saw  several  gentlemen  standing  on  the 
outer  steps  of  tnis  fashionable  mansion,  and  aa 
they  kept  eyeing  us  rather  sharply,  I  felt  a  strong 
inclination  to  ask  them  what  they  thought  of  the 
Pennsylvania  representation  to  New  Bedford  ;  but 
on  looking  behind,  and  seeing  some  of  my  rear 
companions  too  heavily  charged  to  follow  success- 
fully in  the  footsteps  of  their  "  illustrious  predeces- 
sors," I  began  to  doubt  the  propriety  of  such  a  ques- 
tion, and  thought  that  the  honor  of  the  Key-Stone 
state  might,  perhaps,  be  better  sustained  in  Gotham, 
Jjy  absolute  silence,  than  by  a  speech  which  might 
possibly  meet  with  an  unfavorable  construction. 

On  our  arrival  at  the  office  of  Mr.  Taylor,  we 
were  informed  that  no  packet  would  sail  for  New 
Bedforo^short  of  three  days,  and  that  during  that 
time  we  were  at  liberty  to  go  where  we  pleased, 
save  that  we  were  to  present  ourselves  at  the 
office  mornings  and  evenings  for  general  muster.  A 
boarding  house  was  pointed  out  to  us,  to  which  we 
all  repaired  for  dinner.  The  eatables  were  certainly 
as  good  as  could  be  expected  by  persons  of  our 
grade  ;  but  there  was  an  appearance  of  comfortless 
accommodation  about  the  house,  in  other  respects, 
that  I  disliked,  and  on  expressing  my  dissatis- 
faction to  Hatfield,  I  found  him  of  the  same  mind. 
As  night  was  approaching,  my  friend  and  I  con- 
cluded to  repair  to  the  bed  rooms,  and  see  how 
matters  stood  there.  We  followed  a  servant  up 
stairs,  and  were  conducted  into  a  large  apartment, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.          27 

along  the  walls  of  which,  bunks  were  erected,  one 
above  the  other,  like  shelves  in  a  dry  goods  store. 
I  had  never  before  seen  the  like,  except  on  canal 
and  steamboats,  and  I  confess,  to  meet  with  such 
things  in  a  city  boarding-house,  was  a  new  feature 
in  my  travels.  I  looked  at  Hatfield,  and  Hatfield 
looked  at  me. 

"  What  do  you .  think  of  it,  Hatfield  ?"  inqui- 
red I. 

"  Can't  go  it !"  was  the  reply. 
"  Don't  like  to  be  drove  to  the  wall,  eh  ?" 
"  No ;    if  I  am  broke  up  and   turned   out   of 
employment,  I  don't  like   to  be  laid  on  the  shelf, 
altogether !" 

"  Nor  I  either,"  said  I,  "  but  what  will  we  do  ?" 
Hatfield  winked  and  nodded  slyly  towards  the 
door,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  There  is  some  one  list- 
ening !"  The  servant,  no  doubt,  overheard  our 
short  colloquy  ;  but  I  cared  little  for  that,  as  I  had 
already  made  up  my  mind  to  stay  in  the  house  no 
longer  than  that  night  at  most.  After  selecting 
a  lower  1)unk,  and  placing  our  effects  under  it  as  a 
mark  of  possession,  we  sallied  forth  into  the  street 
and  took  a  turn  round  the  city.  At'  our  return, 
we  were  met  at  the  door  by  the  landlady,  who  told 
us  not  to  go  to  bed  until  our  companions  were  pro- 
vided for,  and  we  would,  perhaps,  fare  the  better 
for  it.  We  were  highly  pleased  to  find  ourselves 
in  favor  with  the  landlady,  and  agreed  to  be 
guided  by  her  advice.  An  hour  elapsed  before 


28         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.    , 

the  shelving  of  the  other  members  of  our  party 
vras  completed,  after  -which,  we  were  led  by  the 
landlady,  into  the  parlor,  and  treated  to  a  glass 
of  passable  brandy.  We  were  then  informed  that 
a  bed  was  prepared  for  our  reception,  in  an  adjoin- 
ing room,  and  a  servant  was  sent  to  light  us  to  it. 
We  congratulated  ourselves  on  our  good  fortune, 
and  Hatfield  remarked  that  our  luck  was1  due 
to  our  clothing,  rather  than  to  our  persons.  I 
was  somewhat  of  the  same  opinion;  for  this  was 
not  the  first  time  a  good  suit  of  clothes  had  been 
instrumental  in  procuring  me  the  attention  of 
strangers. 

We  went  to  bed  with  light  hearts,  anticipating 
pleasant  dreams  and  a  comfortable  night's  rest ; 
but,  alas  !  how  often  do  the  most  sanguine  hopes 
and  proud  expectations  of  the  delighted  enthusiast 
end  in  disappointment  and  vexation  ?  Was  the 
room  haunted,  or  had  the  infernal  spirits  combined 
to  drive  us  from  our  resting  place  ?  I  felt  that 
there  was  something  wrong  about  us  ;  and  though 
not  a  believer  in  ghosts  and  hobgoblins,  I  was, 
nevertheless,  satisfied  that  the  bed  was  troubled 
with  something  more  than  human.  To  ascertain 
the  cause  of  this  unexpected  disturbance,  I  passed 
my  hand  rapidly  along  the  sheet,  and  felt  my 
finger  come  suddenly  in  contact  with  a  creeping 
body.  A  slight  pressure  sufficed  to  overcome  the 
obstacle,  and  the  smell  which  greeted  my  olfac- 
tories, satisfied  me  of  a  visit  from  an  inferior  genus 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         29 

of  the  animal  kingdom.  Hatfield,  I  perceived, 
from  his  restlessness,  was  as  busily  occupied  in 
fighting  off  his  assailants  as  myself.  He  rolled, 
tossed,  kicked,  and  swore,  and  in  his  rage,  wished 
the  whole  city  of  Gotham,  and  all  its  inhabitants, 
to  the  dominions  of  Pluto.  At  last  the  morning 
dawned,  and  we  were  not  slow  in  removing  our- 
selves from  the  scene  of  strife.  The  bed  was 
literally  strewed  with  the  dead  and  dying,  while 
our  shirts  presented  huge  blotches  of  blood,  where 
the  unfortunate  victims  of  the  midnight  battle  had 
weltered  in  their  dying  gore. 

"  Well,  Hatfield,"  said  I,  as  we  were  dressing 
ourselves,  "we  can  safely  say,  that  for  once  in  our 
lives,  we  have  slept  in  a  big-bug  bed  !" 

"Yes!"  replied  he  laughing,  "and  lodged  in  a 
big-bug  house  too.  But  if  we  are  to  lodge  in  this 
place  two  nights  longer,  I  am  decidedly  in  favor 
of  having  the  big-bugs  and  ourselves  placed  in 
separate  apartments." 

"  I  shall  certainly  vote  in  favor  of  such  a  change, 
in  this  instance,"  said  I;  "although,  in  general, 
I  am  not  in  favor  of  dividing  society  into  castes  !" 

"Nor  I  either,''  answered  Hatfield,  "where 
there  exists  a  community  of  thoughts,  tastes,  and 
feelings,  but  these  infernal  parasites  batten  on  the 
very  best  blood  of  the  democracy  !" 

*'  True  !  I  wonder  how  our  new  boss,  Mr.  Tay- 
lor, would  have  rested,  in  a  similar  predicament  ?" 

"As  comfortable  as  a  pickled  herring." 
3* 


30         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"Indeed,"  said  I;  "don't  you  think  he'd  have 
floundered  a  little  ?" 

"  Not  he,  indeed,"  replied  Hatfield,  laughing ; 
"  he's  too  lean.  They  could  have  made  no  more 
impression  on  his  withered  hide,  than  on  the  shell 
of  a  stuffed  alligator  !" 

After  breakfast,  we  repaired  to  Peck  Slip,  to 
'  attend  muster  at  the  shipping  office,  hut  found  no 
one  there.  We  lounged  around  the  slip  till  near 
dinner  time,  when  we  were  greeted  with  the  appear- 
ance of  Taylor,  who  arrived  at  his  office  with 
another  party  of  men,  from  somewhere  in  Jersey. 
Hatfield  immediately  informed  him  of  our  desire 
to  change  our  boarding-house,  and  asked  permis- 
sion to  hunt  one  to  suit  ourselves. 

?'  What  is  the  matter  with  the  one  where  you 
are  ?"  asked  Taylor. 

"  There  are  too  many  blood-suckers  about  it," 
answered  Hatfied,  with  a  smile. 

"  They  must  be  of  your  own  party,  then,"  said 
Taylor  ;  "  I  never  heard  of  any  one  being  sucked 
out  of  any  thing  there." 

"He  has  reference  to  the  bed-bugs,"  interposed 
1,  perceiving  that  the  shipping-master  misunder- 
stood my  companion's  meaning. 

"Bed-bugs!"  echoed  Taylor.  "Do  the  bed- 
bugs disturb  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,5'  answered  Hatfield  ;  "  they  are  regu- 
lar horse-leeches  ;  they  have  leached  me  out  of  at 
least  half  a  gallon  of  my  best  blood  '" 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         31 

''Impossible  !"  ejaculated  Taylor. 

"  A  fact,"  continued  Hatfield ;  "  if  you  don't 
want  to  be  put  to  tbe  expense  of  burying  two  men 
before  two  days,  you  had  better  grant  our  request." 

"Nonsense!"  replied  Taylor;  "you  are  only 
joking  !" 

"  Joking  !"  exclaimed  Hatfield  ;  "  if  you  cannot 
believe  my  statement,  let  the  evidence  of  your  own 
eyes  convince  you !"  and  pulling  off  his  coat,  my 
friend  exhibited  his  shirt  sleeves,  while  a  general 
laugh  burst  from  the  men  who  were  gathered 
around. 

The  shipping-master  regarded  the  bloody  sleeves 

with  an  astonishment  half  comic,  half  serious,  and 

'as  if  at  last  satisfied  that  the  stains  were  really 

caused  by  blood,  leered  very  searchingly  into  the 

eyes  of  Hatfield. 

"Young  man,"  said  he,  "are  you  not  sometimes 
in  the  habit  of  getting  drunk?" 

"Why  do  you  ask  that  question  ?"  inquired  my 
friend. 

"  Merely  because  I  think  you've  been  a  little 
tight,  and  fallen  into  a  butcher's  stall,"  said 
Taylor. 

To  sustain  the  veracity  of  my  friend,  I  exhibi- 
ted my  sleeves,  and  when  Taylor  found  the  evi- 
dence in  favor  of  bed  bugs  was  irrefutable,  he 
gave  us  leave  to  hunt  a  boarding-house  wherever 
we  pleased. 

My  friend  and  I  now  wandered  forth  into  the 


32         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

city,  and  were  not  long  in  finding  lodgings  more 
agreeable  to  our  taste.  On  our  return  to  Peck 
Slip,  after  our  trunks,  we  were  met  by  Taylor's 
clerk,  who  had  been  sent  to  request  our  presence 
at  the  shipping  office.  On  arriving  at  the  office,  we 
were  informed  by  Taylor,  that  he  had  just  received 
a  letter  from  Sag  Harbor,  requesting  him  to  send 
six  men  to  that  place,  to  fill  out  a  ship's  company 
for  a  man  named  Mulford,  and  desired  that  Hat- 
field  and  I  should  go  there.  I  objected  to  this 
arrangement  on  the  grounds  that  I  had  agreed 
with  Mr.  Wrighter  to  go  to  New  Bedford,  and  to 
that  place  I  must  accordingly  go.  Taylor,  how- 
ever, insisted  on  having  us  go  to  Sag  Harbor.  He 
said  the  men  to  whom  he  wished  to  send  us,  were 
particular  friends  of  his,  and  he  was  desirous  to 
send  them  respectable  looking  men,  and  for  that 
reason  had  selected  us.  He  doubted  not  but  that 
we  would  be  better  suited  there  than  at  New  Bed- 
ford. This  bit  of  flattery  bore  but  little  weight 
with  me.  I  believed  this  sudden  change,  on  the 
part  of  Taylor,  the  result  of  some  selfish  view,  or 
that  he  merely  wished  to  shake  us  off,  thus  hastily, 
because  we  were  dissatisfied  with  his  boarding- 
house.  Hatfield  was  content  to  go,  provided  the 
opportunity  of  going  to  sea  was  as  favorable  from 
Sag  Harbor  as  from  New  Bedford.  Taylor  assu- 
red us  that  we  need  have  no  fears  on  that  head,  as 
there  were  some  fifteen  ships  at  that  port,  the  most 
of  which  were  there  preparing  for  sea.  At  last  I 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         33 

told  him,  if  he  would  pledge  his  honor  that  he  was 
using  no  deception  in  urging  us  thither,  I  would 
consent  to  go.  This  he  readily  did,  and  in  half 
an  hour  afterwards  our  traps  and  fixtures  were 
deposited  on  board  a  schooner  lying  at  Peck  Slip 
wharf. 


Voyage  to  Sag  Harbor,  and  Adventures  on  Long  Island. 

IT  was  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  a 
"beautiful  May  day,  -when  our  schooner  cast  loose 
from  the  wharf,  and  glided  gracefully  up  the  East 
river,  in  the  direction  of  Blackwell's  Island.  For 
the  space  of  an  hour  I  found  amusement  in  specu- 
lating on  the  appearance  of  the  beautiful  country- 
seats  that  adorned  the  banks  of  the  river  on  either 
side.  Hatfield  had  located  himself  on  the  heel 
of  the  bowsprit,  and  seemed  lost  in  the  solution 
of  some  absorbing  mental  difficulty.  Our  four 
companions,  who  partook  equally  of  the  land  and 
of  the  water  in  their  appearance,  had  spread  their 
bodies,  as  well  as  their  bedding,  down  the  main 
hatch,  and  were  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  a  com- 
fortable snooze,  while  the  crew  of  the  schooner,  in 
the  meantime,  were  busily  occupied  in  clearing  up 
the  decks  of  the  vessel  for  sea.  Hatfield,  at  last 
arousing  himself  from  his  reverie,  proposed  that 
we  should  go  below,  and  see  what  was  going  on 
there. 

On  entering  the  cabin  we  found  that  the  sum 
total  of  the  passengers  amounted  to  only  four 
besides  ourselves.  They  consisted  of  three  gentle- 
(84) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         35 

men  and  a  young  lady.  The  lady's  father,  an 
elderly  farmer  from  some  part  of  Long  Island,  sat 
on  the  larboard  side  of  the  cabin,  listening  atten- 
tively to  a  middle  aged  politician,  an  opponent  of 
Jackson's  administration,  who  was  belaboring  the 
old  hero  most  soundly.  Occasionally  the  old  far- 
mer endeavored  to  twist  in  a  word  in  defence  of 
the  old  general,  but  it  was  instantly  swept  away  by 
the  superior  verbosity  of  his  antagonist.  Behind 
these  disputants,  with  his  head  leaning  against  the 
bulk-head,  sat  a  gentlemanly  personage  in  black, 
whom  I  took  to  be  a  preacher.  He  was  evidently 
paying  grave  attention  to  the  political  strife  that 
was  progressing  near  him,  and  the  old  Whig,  as  if 
desirous  of  drawing  him  into  his  own  views,  at 
each  severe  thrust  he  gave  the  old  farmer,  appealed 
to  him  with  such  a  look  as  clearly  expressed  the 
three  monosyllables,  "  Aint  it  so  ?"  The  gravity 
of  the  gentleman  in  black,  at  each  appeal,  relaxed 
into  a  smile,  but  there  was  no  nod,  no  token  of 
assent  by  which  the  politician  might  suppose  him- 
self favored  with  his  approbation. 

When  Hatfield  and  I  entered  the  cabin,  there 
was  a  momentary  pause ;  but  this  only  gave  the 
anti-Jackson  orator  time  to  recruit  his  wind  for  a 
fresh  attack.  There  was  now  a  larger  auditory, 
and  it  of  course  became  necessary  to  make  a  pro- 
portionate display.  Whether  my  youth  made  him 
suppose  me  easily  influenced  by  argument,  or 
whether  he  disliked  the  sarcastic  smile  of  the  gen- 


36         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tleman  in  black,  I  am  unable  to  decide,  but  shortly 
after  I  had  seated  myself,  he  dropped  his  appeals 
to  him  of  the  white  cravat,  and  directed  them  to 
me.  I  at  last  ventured  to  observe  that  the  prece- 
ding administration  had  been  based  upon  firm 
principles ;  for  however  moved  his  opponents  might 
have  been,  Jackson  himself  was  immovable.  This 
rap  appeared  to  nettle  him.  He  abandoned  the 
old  farmer  at  once,  and  turning  in  his  seat,  so  as  to 
present  a  full  front  towards  me,  he  re-opened  his 
batteries  at  a  most  alarming  rate. 

From  the  day  that  I  was  old  enough  to  shout 
"Hurrah  for  Jackson,"  I  had  always  sided  with 
the  Democratic  party.  At  the  time  the  United 
States  Bank  bill  was  vetoed,  I  joined  in  the  hue 
and  cry  against  it.  Old  Hickory  was  represented 
as  the  friend  and  guardian  of  the  laboring  poor. 
The  Bank,  it  was  said,  was  the  poor  man's  most 
deadly  enemy ;  and  I  believed  that  the  downfall 
of  the  latter,  and  the  elevation  of  the  former,  were 
the  only  means  of  securing  to  the  toiling  poor  their 
liberties,  rights,  and  privileges.  I  did  not  pause  to 
consider  if  my  views  were  right  or  wrong.  I  was 
told  by  the  leading  men  of  my  party  that  such  and 
such  things  were  facts,  and  their  words  to  me  were 
gospel  truth.  Thus  impressed,  it  appeared  sacri- 
legious in  me  to  hear  the  name  of  Jackson  abused 
without  resenting  it.  Up  to  the  present  time  I 
had  never  yet  cast  a  vote,  but  I  had  learned  to 
talk,  and  this  I  deemed  of  far  greater  consequence 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.          37 

than  a  vote.  In  the  present  case,  my  "dander" 
was  decidedly  up  at  hearing  the  old  political  hyena 
jump  so  hard  on  the  hickory  idol  of  my  party,  and 
I  felt  like  paying  him  back,  with  interest,  the  full 
wages  of  his  labor.  Yet  I  felt  that  I  must  be 
cautious  in  my  attack,  for  fear  of  defeat  myself, 
for  I  had  been  caught  up  by  political  tartars 
before ;  and  as  to  the  calibre  of  the  old  gentleman 
before  me,  I  knew  not  what  might  be  its  exact 
dimensions.  Hence  I  thought  it  best  to  act  on  the 
defensive,  until  such  time  as  I  should  have  an 
opportunity  of  sounding  the  full  depth  of  his  pow- 
ers, and  th  n  by  a  regular  coup  de  main  carry  off 
the  whole  argument.  In  this  plan  I  succeeded 
admirably.  The  old  fellow  kept  battering  away 
with  charge  after  charge,  until  the  bulk  of  his 
ammunition  was  expended,  after  which  I  ventured 
to  let  fly  a  volley.  So  unexpected  a  resistance 
made  the  old  joker  desperate.  He  now  redoubled 
his  efforts,  but  his  aim  was  less  pointedly  directed, 
and  most  of  his  shot  fell  short  of  the  mark.  I 
followed  up  my  advantage  with  such  success  that  I 
soon  perceived  the  venerable  gentleman  becoming 
fearful  of  the  termination  of  the  conflict,  and  look- 
ing around  for  aid  from  other  quarters.  I  saw, 
however,  that  no  one  was  disposed  to  fly  to  his 
assistance,  and  bringing  my  whole  battery  to  bear 
on  the  old  champion's  position,  I  soon  silenced  him 
entirely.  The  administration  was  sustained,  the 
enemy's  colors  were  abandoned,  and  the  Jackson 
4 


38         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST 

democracy  was  that  day  triumphant  on  tlie  East 
river. 

Having  thus  succeeded  in  silencing  our  loqua- 
cious fellow  passenger,  I  looked  round  to  see  what 
impression  my  triumph  had  made  on  the  rest  of  the 
passengers.  I  perceived  that  all  looked  pleased 
except  my  discomfited  antagonist.  The  farmer 
rubbed  his  hands  in  the  greatest  glee,  and  the  gen- 
tleman in  black  looked  as  if  he  would  congratulate 
me,  but  was  doubtless  restrained  by  the  presence 
of  third  parties.  Hatfield,  who  was  also  a  member 
of  what  my  opponent  styled  "  the  dirty  shirt  dem- 
ocracy," sat  apart  at  one  side  of  the  cabin,  with 
his  eyes  bent  on  a  shinplaster  likeness  of  old 
Hickory,  and  which  he  kept  whirling  round  and 
round  between  his  fingers  with  the  velocity  of  a 
flutter-wheel.  The  young  lady,  who  had  been  a 
silent  spectator  to  our  political  squabble,  rose  to 
look  up  the  companion-way,  and  in  doing  so  she 
favored  me  with  a  look.  A  congratulatory  smile 
played  upon  her  lips,  which  threw  such  a  quantity 
of  gas  into  my  brain  that  there  was  some  danger 
of  it  exploding  with  vanity  and  self-conceit.  I 
began  to  think  that  my  eloquence,  besides  silencing 
the  loquacity  of  our  common  pest,  had  also  the 
effect  of  captivating  her ;  and  no  sooner  had  this 
idea  entered  my  mind,  than  I  fancied  myself  over 
head  and  ears  in  love  with  her.  Strange  as  it  may 
seem,  I  had  already  forgotten  that  I  was  on  a 
journey  for  a  long  voyage  to  sea,  and  thought  of 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         39 

following  up  a  love  adventure  with  this  interesting 
nymph  of  the  Sound. 

About  this  time  the  captain  made  his  appearance 
in  the  cahin,  and  announced  that  we  were  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hellgate.  At  this  intelligence  we  all 
went  on  deck  to  see  how  matters  and  things  looked 
in  the  neighborhood  of  uncle  Nicholas's  dominions. 
I  walked  forward  and  took  a  seat  on  the  windlass, 
where  I  was  soon  after  joined  by  the  gentleman  in 
black.  We  entered  into  conversation  and  in  a 
short  time  became  quite  familiar  with  each  other. 
Instead  of  a  preacher,  I  now  discovered  that  he 
was  a  merchant  of  Sag  Harbor,  and  that  he  had 
been  to  New  York  to  lay  in  a  stock  of  summer 
goods.  He  gave  me  a  full  detail  of  the  shipping 
at  Sag  Harbor,  the  conditions  on  which  landsmen 
were  generally  received  in  whale-ships,  the  method 
of  shipping  them,  and  the  articles  necessary  for  an 
outfit.  In  short,  he  gave  me  all  the  information  I 
could  desire  in  relation  to  the  object  of  my  jour- 
ney, and  concluded  by  soliciting  my  patronage  in 
buying  of  him  my  outfit,  should  I  go  to  sea  from 
that  place. 

Supper  was  now  announced,  on  which  we  all 
repaired  to  the  cabin,  and  soon  afterwards  returned 
to  the  deck,  where  we  passed  our  time  until  dark. 
The  vessel  had  by  this  time  got  out  into  the  Sound, 
and  the  breeze  freshening  up,  the  water  began  to 
be  a  little  rough.  I  now  thought  it  time  to  look 
»s>"  tid  for  my  fair  dulcina,  and  indulge  in  a  little 


40         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

harmless  chat.  I  found  her  leaning  over  the  taffrail, 
with  a  countenance  partaking  of  every  look  but 
that  of  love.  The  heaving  motion  of  the  vessel 
had  caused  a  heaving  motion  at  her  stomach ;  and 
I  had  the  good  sense  to  leave  her  in  the  indulgence 
of  an  exercise  quite  the  reverse  of  eating.  I  soon 
afterwards  turned  into  my  bunk  and  fell  into  a 
sound  sleep,  from  which  I  did  not  awake  until 
after  daylight  next  morning.  At  breakfast  I 
looked  round  for  my  fair  vision  of  the  previous 
day,  but  she  had  vanished  during  the  night.  For 
a  while  I  felt  quite  lonely  and  dejected,  and  began 
to  doubt  the  expediency  of  going  to  sea ;  but  as 
we  approached  our  place  of  destination  my  spirits 
revived,  and  at  the  close  of  the  day  I  was  as  merry 
as  ever.  Before  the  light  of  another  day  had 
dawned  upon  my  head,  I  was  landed  safely  at  Sag 
Harbor. 

Although  it  was  Sunday  morning  when  I  made 
my  first  appearance  in  Sag  Harbor,  yet  this'  did 
not  deter  me  from  searching  out  the  house  of  Mr. 
Mulford.  I  knocked  at  the  door,  and  presently  a 
slender,  spare  gentleman,  whose  appearance  en- 
croached a  little  on  the  borders  of  dandyism,  pre- 
sented himself.  This,  I  was  informed,  was  Mr. 
Mulford.  I  presented  my  credentials  from  Mr. 
Taylor,  which  were  pronounced  all  right.  As  he 
had  no  particular  boarding-house  to  recommend, 
we  were  at  liberty  to  seek  our  own  lodgings  whcre- 
ever  we  pleased.  He  should  not  attend  to  us  that 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         41 

day,  he  said,  but  at  any  other  time,  would  be 
happy  to  see  us  at  his  office.  Having  said  this 
much,  he  dismissed  us  by  shutting  the  door  very 
politely  in  our  faces. 

Hatfield  and  I  were  not  long  in  procuring  accom- 
modations, which  we  found  to  our  satisfaction,  at 
the  Suffolk  House.  Our  four  companions,  not 
ambitious  of  locating  themselves  in  so  conspicuous 
a  place,  took  up  their  residence  at  a  private  board- 
ing-house near  the  wharf.  Our  landlord  was  a 
very  agreeable  and  obliging  personage,  and  in 
connection  with  his  other  nick-nacks,  revelled  in  the 
title  of  Duke.  Long  Island  is  divided  into  three 
counties,  called  King's,  Queen's,  and  Suffolk,  uud 
Mr.  Fordham  was  generally  known  amui.^  his 
acquaintances  as  the  Duke  of  Suffolk.  Our  traps 
were  soon  brought  from  the  schooner  to  the  hotel, 
where  my  friend  and  I  found  ourselves  once  more 
snugly  housed  on  terra  firma. 

Early  on  Monday  morning  a  message  was  brought 
from  Mr.  Mulford,  requesting  our  immediate  attend- 
ance at  his  office.  We  found  him  seated  at  his  desk, 
with  his  shipping  articles  before  him.  He  told  us 
that  he  had  then  two  ships  ready  for  sea,  which 
would  sail  in  a  few  days,  and  we  might  choose  a 
berth  in  either,  and  sign  our  names  to  the  articles 
at  once.  I,  however,  thought  there  was  no  urgent 
necessity  to  sign  so  hastily,  and  begged  a  few  days 
grace  to  make  up  my  mind.  He,  nevertheless, 
insisted  on  our  signing  immediately.  I  then  ob 
4* 


42         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

served  that  aa  I  was  entirely  ignorant  of  the  busi- 
ness in  which  I  was  about  to  engage,  I  was  desirous 
of  having  time  to  make  some  inquiries  respecting 
the  usual  rates  of  pay  in  whale  ships.  He  said  the 
rates  of  pay  were  limited  tp  shares,  and  that  the 
customary  shares  of  landsmen  were  the  hundred 
and  eightieth  share.  I  doubted  the  truth  of  this 
statement,  for  Mr.  Scoy,  the  merchant  who  came 
with  me  in  the  schooner  from  New  York,  had  rep- 
resented the  usual  shares  of  raw  hands  as  varying 
from  the  hundred  and  fiftieth  to  the  hundred  and 
seventy-fifth.  Hence  I  began  to  suspect  that  this 
unnecessary  haste  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Mulford,  was 
the  result  of  a  fraudulent  design  ;  and  as  I  was 
fully  determined  not  to  be  cheated  with  my  eyes 
open,  by  signing  his  articles  precipitately,  I  told 
him  plumply,  that  I  would  not  ship  under  four 
days.  This  made  him  a  little  angry. 

"You  must  go  in  one  or  the  other  of  these 
ships,''  said  he;  "I  might  put  you  in  whichever  I 
pleased,  but  I  give  you  your  choice.  You  are  in 
my  employ,  and  are  obliged  to  take  just  whatever 
lay  I  choose  to  give  you.  You,  in  effect,  sold  your- 
self into  my  service  at  New  York  the  very  moment 
you  agreed  with  Taylor  to  go  to  sea." 

"I  sell  myself  to  you?"  retorted  I,  to  this  im- 
perative language  of  Mr.  Mulford.  "  I  never 
knew  there  was  such  a  man  as  you  in  existence.  I 
agreed  with  Mr.  Wrighter,  in  Philadelphia,  to  go 
to  New  Bedford.  At  New  York  Mr.  Taylor  per- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         43 

suaded  me  to  come  to  this  place,  and  I  consented 
to  come  only  on  condition  that  if  I  did  not  like  it 
I  might  still  proceed  to  New  Bedford.  I  never 
bound  myself  with  you,  nor  with  any  of  your  agents, 
nor  shall  I,  in  the  present  instance,  suffer  myself 
to  he  cheated  by  entering  your  ship  at  the  hun- 
dred and  eightieth  lay.  Whether  you  like  it  or 
not,  sir,  I  shall  choose  my  own  time  for  ship- 
ping." 

Mr.  Mulford  looked  very  black  at  this  declara- 
tion of  independence,  while  I,  walking  out  of  the 
office,  took  a  turn  on  the  wharf.  Hatfield,  in  the 
meantime,  returned  to  the  Duke's,  where  he  re- 
ported the  conference  to  the  mate  and  second 
mate  of  the  ship  Hudson,  a  vessel  belonging  to  one 
of  Mr.  Mulford 's  rivals.  These  young  men  con- 
gratulated me  on  having  defeated  the  designs  of 
Mulford,  who  they  said  was  in  the  habit  of  coming 
such  tricks  over  strangers.  They  sought  my  com- 
pany, and  besides  interesting  themselves  warmly 
in  my  behalf,  introduced  me  to  a  large  number  of 
young  people  of  both  sexes  around  the  village,  as 
well  as  to  Mr.  Green,  the  captain,  and  to  Mr.  Cook, 
the  owner  of  the  ship  Hudson.  A  new  circle  of 
friends  soon  made  their  appearance  around  me, 
whose  smiling  faces,  meeting  me  on  all  sides,  made 
the  time  steal  away  gaily  and  pleasantly.  Two 
weeks  passed  by.  Mr.  Mulford's  two  ships  had 
sailed — my  four  companions  were  already  tossing 
on  the  briny  deep,  while  my  friend  and  I,  almost 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 


of  the  object  of  our  journey,  were  still 
holding  our  soirees  at  the  palace  of  the  Duke. 

It  was  during  these  two  weeks  that  I  formed  an 
intimacy  with  a  young  sailor  named  Mark  Leigh- 
ton,  a  native  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire. 
His  brothers  were  men  of  respectable  standing  at 
that  place,  one  being  a  merchant  and  the  other  a 
ship  owner.  Mark  had  left  home  when  a  mere 
boy.  The  earlier  portion  of  his  life  had  been  spent 
in  the  merchant  service.  He  had  made  two  sealing 
voyages  to  the  South  seas,  and  but  four  weeks 
previous  to  my  introduction  to  him  he  had  returned 
from  a  four  years'  cruise  on  the  Pacific  ocean,  in 
the  whale  ship  Arabella.  He  was  frank,  manly, 
generous,  and  benevolent,  as  strong  as  a  young 
lion,  and  a  sailor  of  the  first  water.  We  became 
much  attached  to  each  other,  and  agreed  to  make 
a  campaign  through  the  world  together.  I  was  to 
be  the  Talleyrand  of  our  travels,  he  the  Napoleon. 
I  was  to  do  the  talking,  and  he  the  fighting.  Most 
of  our  time  was  spent  together,  either  in  sporting 
and  porgy  fishing,  or  in  sailing  a  boat  load  of  young 
ladies  up  and  down  the  bay.  We  had,  also,  fre- 
quent invitations  to  parties,  and  as  I  could  execute 
a  song  to  a  considerable  degree  of  perfection,  and 
play  on  the  flute,  these  accomplishments  were  fre- 
quently called  into  requisition,  and  had  the  effect 
of  procuring  me  quite  a  popular  notoriety  among 
the  villagers.  The  circumstance  of  going  to  sea 
as  a  common  saibr,  was  no  disgrace  to  me,  for  all 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         45 

the  brothers,  lovers,  husbands,  sons,  and  fathers  of 
the  place  were  in  some  way  connected  with  the  sea. 
To  be  a  sailor  there,  was  to  be  one  of  them ;  and 
to  be  a  sailor  who  could  sing  tastefully,  and  play 
the  flute,  was  captivating  in  the  extreme,  and  a 
passport  to  the  heart  of  every  young  lady  in  the 
place.  Besides,  I  boarded  at  a  Duke's  house,  had 
been  pronounced  a  clever  young  man  by  captain 
Green,  of  the  "good  ship  Hudson,"  and  what 
higher  recommendation  could  be  asked  ?  None, 
certainly.  My  songs  and  music  were  gratifying  to 
the  ladies,  their  company  and  applause  were  grati- 
fying to  me,  the  parties  and  jollifications  were 
gratifying  to  every  body,  and  every  body  enjoyed 
them  with  happy  and  mirthful  hearts.  Who  could 
be  morbid,  sad,  dejected,  ill-natured,  and  morose, 
in  such  society?  I  confess  that  I  could  not,  but 
secretly  blessed  the  schooner  that  had  brought  me 
safely  to  so  merry  a  place  as  Sag  Harbor. 

While  matters  were  proceeding  thus  gaily  with 
me,  a  circumstance  occurred  at  the  Duke's  which, 
while  it  added  to  my  popularity,  was  at  the  same 
time  extremely  gratifying  to  my  vanity.  Hatfield, 
in  his  days  of  plenty,  having  more  money  than 
he  could  spend  wisely,  had  bought,  at  an  auc- 
tion in  Philadelphia,  a  few  volumes  of  books,  which 
on  being  opened,  were  found  to  be  printed  in  the 
Latin  language.  Unable  to  dispose  of  them  in  the 
city,  he  had  brought  them  to  Sag  Harbor,  and 
laid  them  on  the  sill  of  our  bed-room  window.  Dr. 


46         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

Dayton,  a  newly  married  physician,  who,  together 
with  his  wife,  boarded  at  the  Duke's,  had  by  acci- 
dent alighted  on  these  books,  and  being  surprised 
to  find  such  articles  among  the  paraphernalia  of  a 
common  sailor,  asked  my  friend  if  he  could  under- 
stand them.  Hatfield  replied  in  the  negative,  but 
said  his  young  friend  was  in  the  habit  of  reading 
them.  This  incident  soon  gave  rise  to  the  report 
that  I  was  a  Latin  scholar,  and  among  the  ladies 
brought  on  the  tapis  the  subject  of  my  origin. 
Questions  were  asked  of  Hatfield,  as  to  who  I 
really  was,  and  where  I  was  from ;  but  as  I  had 
sunk  the  shoemaker  entirely  on  my  departure  from 
Philadelphia,  even  Hatfield  was  not  aware  of  my 
vocation.  The  ladies,  getting  soon  into  the  roman- 
tic mood,  made  it  out  as  clear  as  day  that  I  was 
some  wealthy  gentleman's  son,  who  had  doubtless 
run  away  from  college,  and  was  now,  in  a  fanciful 
freak,  going  to  try  a  voyage  to  sea.  I  knew 
nothing  of  these  reports  till  told  of  them  by  Leigh- 
ton,  nor  did  I  then  take  any  pains  to  refute  them. 
I  thought  if  people  felt  disposed  to  amuse  them- 
selves at  my  expense,  it  was  no  business  of  mine. 
So  long  as  they  continued  to  treat  me  with  the 
kindness  they  had  done,  I  was  abundantly  satisfied  ; 
and- as  their  reports  were  not  of  a  character  to  for- 
feit their  good  opinion,  I  was  far  too  vain  to  think 
of  humbling  the  position  they  had  assigned  to  me 
in  society. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  fourth  of  July  was  ap- 


FIYE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         47 

preaching,  and  preparations  were  making  at  the 
Duke's  for  celebrating  it  on  a  magnificent  sca.e. 
The  committee  of  arrangement,  consisting  mostly 
of  my  new  acquaintances,  waited  on  me  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  my  vocal  powers  to  aid  in 
the  musical  department.  I  yielded  my  consent  to 
the  deputation,  and  the  songs  pitched  upon  for 
the  occasion,  were  the  "Sea,"  and  the  "Star- 
spangled  Banner."  That  same  evening,  a  com- 
mittee from  a  rival  house,  opposite  to  Duke  Ford- 
ham's,  waited  on  me  with  a  request  to  favor  their 
celebration  with  these  two  identical  songs.  But  I 
declined  this  second  invitation  on  the  grounds  of 
having  given  my  patronage  to  the  duke.  An  argu- 
ment was  now  entered  into  by  the  rival  committee, 
with  a  view  of  overthrowing  the  Duke's  negotia- 
tion. It  was  suggested,  that  the  house  where  I 
had  promised  to  attend  would  be  patronized  exclu- 
sively by  captains,  ship-owners,  and  merchants, 
who  would  only  receive  me  as  a  necessary  musical 
instrument,  but  who  could  have  no  possible  sym- 
pathy or  feelings  in  common  with  me — that  they 
were  aristocratical  in  sentiment  and  feeling,  and 
cared  not  a  cent  for  the  thoughts  or  welfare  of 
poor  Jack ;  but  over  the  way  I  would  be  greeted 
by  a  jolly  party  of  whole-souled  fellows,  well  met ; 
by  mates,  second  mates,  b'oat-steerers,  and  common 
jack  tars,  who  would  receive  me  as  a  friend,  and 
cheer  me  as  a  brother.  In  short,  that  I  would  there 
be  among  the  democratic  blue-jackets  Instead  of  a 


48         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

shoal  of  aristocratical  nabobs.  These  arguments,  it 
must  be  confessed,  operated  so  weightily  upon  me  that 
I  was  almost  inclined  to  renounce  the  Duke  for  ever ; 
but  at  this  critical  period,  Mr.  Fordham's  son,  and 
heir  apparent  to  the  Dukedom  of  Suffolk,  encount- 
ered me,  and  interposed  to  prevent  so  fatal  a  catas- 
trophe to  the  interests  of  the  house  of  "  Suffolk." 
His  views  seemed  to  imply  that  as  I  boarded  at 
the  Duke's,  I  could  scarcely  be  excusable  in  voting 
the  bread  out  of  my  own  mouth  by  abandoning  his 
cause.  Like  an  humble  democrat  in  a  despotic 
government,  I  saw  at  once  that  my  fate  was  insepa- 
rably linked  with  the  aristocracy,  and  accordingly 
placed  a  negative  on  the  request  of  the  deputation 
from  the  lower  house. 

At  last  the  long  desired  day  arrived.  The  sun 
shone  clear  and  beautiful  in  the  heavens  above — the 
whole  town  was  in  holiday  of  finery ;  while  Suffolk 
House  presented  an  absolute  fair  of  smiling  faces 
and  happy  hearts.  The  dinner  of  "  mine  host," 
the  Duke,  was  most  excellent  and  did  great  honor 
to  his  lordship's  taste.  The  gastronomic  exercises 
passed  off  without  any  other  accidents  than  the 
breaking  a  prong  from  a  carving  fork  and  the 
upsetting  of  the  president's  tumbler. 

The  dinner  over,  the  wines  were  brought  on, 
when  the  president  rose  and  proposed  that  the 
company  be  favoured  with  a  song.  In  anticipa- 
tion of  such  an  event,  I  had  laid  in  a  sufficient 
charge  of  wine,  as  I  thought,  to  produce  the  proper 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         49 

tone  of  voice.  I  rose  and  commenced,  though  not 
without  some  nervous  twitching  about  the  heart. 
The  first  verse  was  attended  with  a  slight  quiver 
of  the  voice,  hut  as  I  proceeded,  I  acquired  confi- 
dence in  my  own  powers,  and  at  the  conclusion  of 
that  song  of  songs,  the  "  Star-spangled  Banner," 
more  than  an  hundred  voices  joined  in  chorus. 
Three  cheers  followed — the  stars  and  stripes  were 
run  aloft  from  the  house-top — a  national  salute 
was  fired  from  a  cannon  on  the  common — bumper 
after  bumper  was  drank  in  rapid  succession,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  the  whole  party  began  to  be  most 
gloriously  patriotic. 

The  events  of  the  night  proved  as  propitious  as 
those  of  the  day.  The  ball  wound  away  in  giddy 
delight  to  the  young  ladies  ;  and  at  an  early  hour 
next  morning  the  assemblage  dispersed  to  their 
respective  homes,  intoxicated  with  the  excellencies 
of  the  night,  as  well  as  with  the  excellency  of  the 
wines. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifth,  and  in  the  culmina- 
tion of  my  Sag  Harborean  popularity,  I  received 
a  call  from  my  most  agreeable  friend,  Mr.  Mul- 
ford.  He  had  a  third  ship  ready  for  sea,  and  was 
desirous  of  knowing  if  I  had  yet  made  up  my  mind 
to  go  to  sea,  or  not.  I  told  him  I  was  going  to  sea, 
but  not  in  his  ship.  I  had  come  to  the  conclusion 
fif  going  to  sea  with  Captain  Green,  in  the  ship  Hud- 
son. Mr.  Cook,  the  owner,  had  offered  to  ship  me. 

*'  Mr.  Cook  will  not  ship  you  !"  said  Mr.  Mulford. 
5 


50         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  But  he  will !"  answered  I. 

*'  He  dare  not  do  it !"  proceeded  Mulford. 

"  Dare  not  ?"  exclaimed  I,  "  Why  he  said  he 
would !" 

"  He'll  subject  himself  to  a  severe  penalty  if  he 
does,"  observed  Mulford. 

"  How  so,  sir  ?"  inquired  I,  surprised  at  the 
vehemence  of  the  ship-owner's  language.  "  It's  a 
free  country — the  man  has  a  right  to  do  as  he 
pleases,  tyas  he  not  ?" 

"  Under  general  circumstances  he  has,  but  under 
particular  ones  he  has  not,"  said  Mulford.  "  We 
ship-owners  are  mutually  bound  under  an  obliga- 
tion of  one  hundred  dollars  not  to  ship  each  other's 
men.  You  are  my  man,  as  I  said  before,  and  if 
he  ships  you,  I'll  exact  the  penalty  to  the  very  last 
cent." 

Without  exchanging  another  word  I  turned  di- 
rectly from  Mr.  Mulford,  and  proceeded  to  Mr. 
Cook's  office.  I  found  him  engaged  in  writing. 
I  related  to  him  the  language  which  had  passed 
between  Mr.  Mulford  and  myself,  and  asked  if  his 
statement  was  correct.  Mr.  Cook  admitted  that 
such  an  arrangement  existed  between  them,  and 
that  he  could  not  ship  me  without  a  written  dis- 
charge from  Mr.  Mulford. 

I  now  found  myself  placed  in  rather  an  awkward 
situation,  but  I  determined  to  extricate  myself  in 
some  way  forthwith.  I  returned  to  Mr.  Mulford, 
and  told  him  what  Mr.  Cook  had  said. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         51 

"  You  might  have  spared  yourself  the  pains  of 
asking  him,"  observed  Mr.  Mulford.  "  But  I  pre- 
sume you  are  now  satisfied,  and  will  enter  my  ship?" 

"No,  sir,"  answered  I.  "  I  repeat,  that  I  never 
will  go  in  a  ship  of  your's." 

"What  are  your  objections  ?"  inquired  Mr.  Mul- 
ford, with  apparent  vexation.  "I  offer  you  the 
same  lay  that  Mr.  Cook  has  offered,  and  in  a  four 
boat  ship  too,  and  what  more  can  you  ask  ?" 

"  It  is  not  the  lay  nor  the  boats  that  make  me 
object  to  going  in  your  ship,  Mr.  Mulford," 
answered  I,  "  but  my  dislike  to  yourself.  You 
endeavored  to  practice  deception  upon  me.  You 
told  me  when  I  first  came  here,  that  the  best  lay 
given  a  landsman  was  the  hundred  and  eightieth. 
Mr.  Cook  subsequently  offered  me  the  hundred  and 
fiftieth,  and  told  me  that  such  was  the  usual  lay. 
You  then  fly  round  in  the  face  of  your  former 
declaration,  and  offer  the  same  as  Mr.  Cook.  Had 
I  signed  your  articles  when  you  first  requested  me 
to  do  so,  I  should  have  come  out  at  least  forty  dol- 
lars less  in  my  share  of  the  ship's  cargo  than  I 
•would  at  your  present  offer.  From  this  I  infer, 
that  your  design,  from  the  beginning,  was  to  cheat 
me  into  a  bad  bargain ;  and  a  man  who  shows  an 
inclination  to  cheat  at  the  commencement  of  a  cruise, 
will  not  hesitate  to  do  the  same  at  tlie  end.  To  be 
plain  in  the  matter,  sir,  I  think  you  are  dishonest, 
and  hence  I  am  firmly  resolved  never  to  enter  into 
your  employ." 


52         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  Insulting  puppy !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mulford, 
jumping  from  his  seat,  and  pacing  his  office  in  a 
great  rage ;  "  I  will  trifle  with  you  no  longer. 
Where  are  the  seven  dollars  advance  money  which 
I  paid  on  your  passage  to  this  place,  and  the  three 
dollars  bounty  money  paid  to  Mr.  Taylor  ?  Pay 
me  those  ten  dollars,  and  quit  my  sight  at  once,  or 
else  sign  these  articles  !" 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Mulford,"  answered  I. 
"  The  seven  dollars  advanced  on  my  passage,  you 
are  certainly  entitled  to,  and  I  shall  endeavor  to 
have  it  paid.  But  the  three  dollars  paid  to  Taylor, 
as  a  bounty  for  sending  me  to  you,  I  have  received 
no  value  for,  and  I  shall  consequently  not  pay  a 
cent  of  it.  Now,  sir,  if  you  will  please  to  give  me 
a  written  dismissal  from  your  service,  I  will  go 
immediately  over  the  way,  to  Mr.  Cook's  office, 
and  enter  my  name  on  the  Hudson's  articles,  and 
Mr.  Cook  will  become  responsible  for  the  payment 
of  the  seven  dollars  !" 

"  I  will  do  no  such  thing.  You  shall  go  in  my 
ship,  or  starve  in  Sag  Harbor !" 

"But  I  have  no  predilection  for  the  former  alter- 
native, Mr.  Mulford,"  answered  I;  "  and  as  to  the 
latter,  Duke  Fordham's  table  would  render  it  an 
utter  impossibility.  No,  sir,  I  have  another  choice ! 
T^iere  is  a  steamer  going  from  this  place  to  New 
London  to-morrow  morning.  Now  if  you  persist 
in  refusing  me  a  discharge,  I  will  proceed  to  New 
Bedford  in  that  boat,  where  I  may  perhaps  not  be 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         53 

trammelled  up  as  I  am  here.  I  have  gained  infor- 
mation enough  at  this  place  to  avoid  being  taken 
in  there.  As  to  the  seven  dollars  I  owe  you,  when 
I  get  that  sum  I  will  remit  it  to  you  in  a  letter, 
and  if  it  should  so  happen  that  you  never  get  any 
letter,  you  will  know  on  whom  to  put  the  blame." 

Mr.  Mulford  was  silent.  My  last  remark  had 
doubtless  touched  upon  a  tender  chord.  Self-inte- 
rest was  an  ingredient  too  powerful  in  his  composi- 
tion to  permit  the  loss  of  seven  dollars  foolishly. 
He  accordingly  proceeded  to  write  out  a  discharge, 
and  handed  it  to  me  without  saying  a  word.  I  pock- 
eted the  discharge,  and  walking  directly  over  to 
the  office  of  Mr.  Cook,  was  in  ten  minutes  after- 
wards numbered  among  the  crew  of  the  ship 
Hudson. 

The  next  thing  to  be  provided  was  an  outfit. 
The  Hudson  was  rapidly  preparing  for  sea,  and  at 
most  would  not  remain  in  port  longer  than  eight 
days.  I  applied  to  Mr.  Scoy  who  furnished  me 
with  all  the  things  necessary  for  a  year's  voyage. 
My  accounts  were  next  footed  up,  when  I  found 
that  by  adding  my  board  bill,  and  the  seven  dollars 
advanced  by  Mulford,  to  the  cost  of  my  outfit,  I 
was  in  arrears  ninety-nine  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 
As  fractions  appeared  to  disfigure  the  books,  I  added 
a  bottle  of  brandy  to  the  account,  and  made  it  an 
even  hundred.  As  security  for  this  sum  I  signed 
an  order  drawn  in  favor  of  Mr.  Scoy  for  my  share 
of  the  Hudson's  cargo  on  her  return,  he  to  receive 
5» 


54         FIVE  YEARS  BEFOIIE  THE  MAST. 

the  whole,  and  to  pay  me  whatever  surplus  remained 
after  deducting  the  principal  and  interest  of  my 
indebtedness. 

Hatfield  shipped  in  the  Hudson  the  same  day 
I  did  ;  but  on  the  following  morning  he  went  in 
the  steamer  to  New  London,  on  a  visit  to  some  of 
his  friends,  and  by  some  unaccountable  absence  of 
mind,  forgot  to  return.  Some  unsuccessful  inqui- 
ries were  made  in  regard  to  him,  but  from  that  day 
to  this,  I  have  never  gleaned  any  tidings  of  the 
old  friend  who  had  sworn  to  go  to  sea  with  me  in 
the  same  ship. 

At  last  the  time  arrived  when  I  must  actually 
make  my  debut  on  a  new,  and  to  me,  an  untried 
element.  My  broadcloth  suit  and  fancy  hat,  were 
carefully  laid  aside  for  future  use,  and  their  place 
occupied  by  a  tarpaulin  hat  and  a  red  flannel  shirt. 
It  must  be  admitted  that  my  new  wardrobe  made 
but  little  improvement  in  my  personal  appearance, 
yet  there  was  a  great  consolation  under  this  humili- 
ating change,  in  knowing  that  my  future  opera- 
tions were  not  to  be  witnessed  by  the  ladies.  While 
this  change  was  being  completed,  my  chest  was 
conveyed  on  board  the  ship,  which  had  hauled  out 
into  the  bay,  and  was  lying  with  her  anchor  apeak, 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  captain  and  a  portion 
of  her  crew.  I  perceived  Captain  Green  approach- 
ing the  wharf,  and  joined  him.  The  second  mate, 
who  was  waiting  with  a  boat  to  convey  us  to  the 
ship,  inquired  for  Leighton.  This  reminded  me 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         55 

that  my  friend  Mark  had  gone  up  town.  I  knew 
that  he  was  paying  his  addresses  to  a  young  lady 
of  the  village,  and  supposed  that  he  had  gone  to 
bid  her  farewell.  But  when  there  is  a  lady  to  be 
attended  to,  there  is  no  knowing  how  long  a  man 
may  be  induced  to  stay,  and  I  was  dispatched  by 
Captain  Green,  to  hunt  him  up.  On  reaching  the 
house,  I  found  Mark  and  his  lady-love  alone.  She 
looked  as  if  she  had  been  weeping,  and  I  fancied 
that  I  saw  a  tear  glistening  in  the  eye  of  Mark. 
He  asked  if  the  boat  was  waiting  for  him,  and  I 
answered  in  the  affirmative.  He  rose  and  took  the 
young  lady's  hand,  while  I  turned  to  look  out  at 
the  window.  A  few  sighs — a  sob — a  whisper — 
and  the  single  word,  "  Remember,"  spoken  in  a 
tremulous  voice  by  the  young  lady,  were  all  I 
heard — and  Mark  and  I,  issuing  into  the  street 
together,  directed  our  way  in  silence  towards  the 
boat. 

On  reaching  the  ship,  the  captain  looked  doubt- 
fully round  the  horizon,  and  as  the  wind  was  unfa- 
vora'ble  for  getting  out  of  the  harbor,  he  suggested 
to  the  mate  that  they  would  not  move  the  anchor 
till  next  morning.  The  men  appeared  satisfied 
with  the  arrangement,  and  began  to  select  their 
bunks  and  spread  their  bedding.  In  a  few  hours 
the  crew  began  to  present  an  appearance  of  organi- 
zation. 

The  circumstance  of  Mark  parting  with  his  mis- 
tress, as  well  as  the  fact  of  my  being  on  the  eve 


56         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

of  a  long  voyage  to  sea,  from  which  I  might  pos- 
sibly never  return,  hung  heavily  on  my  mind,  and 
at  the  approach  of  night,  produced  an  oppressive 
feeling  of  melancholy.  I  now  began  to  think  of 
the  friends  of  by-gone  days,  and  among  the  many 
forms  that  rose  up  before  me,  was  the  image  of  a 
young  lady  whom  I  had  left  in  Philadelphia,  and 
who  was,  perhaps,  at  that  very  hour,  dreaming  of 
the  faithlessness  of  men.  I  had  not  visited  her 
on  my  departure  from  the  city,  as  I  had  some 
qualms  about  trusting  my  feelings  in  her  presence ; 
but  I  now  thought  it  no  more  than  just  to  inform 
her  of  my  whereabouts,  and  send  her  some  slight 
token  of  remembrance.  To  this  end  I  resolved  to 
pass  my  last  night  in  America,  in  writing  a  love- 
letter. 

I  shall  not  worry  the  patience  of  the  reader  in 
dragging  him  through  a  rehearsel  of  this  letter. 
Like  all  letters  of  this  description,  it  partook  of 
some  sense  and  a  great  deal  of  nonsense — of  some 
emotions  which  I  really  felt  at  the  time,  and  others 
that  I  never  did  feel — of  unswerving  fidelity,  eter- 
nal constancy,  and  a  whole  catalogue  of  soft  and 
flattering  words,  such  as  we  feel  conscious  will 
please,  although  we  know  them  to  be  false.  All 
this,  and  a  hundred  other  things,  I  wrote,  and  con- 
cluded by  swearing  that  I  would  never  marry  any 
other  woman  without  permission  from  her.  This 
faithful  epistle  I  transmitted  to  the  post-office, 
through  the  agency  of  Mr.  Scoy's  clerk,  who  was 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         57 

the  last  citizen  that  took  his  departure  from  the 
decks  of  the  old  ship  Hudson. 

On  the  following  morning  our  captain  was  on 
board  at  an  early  hour ;  but  as  the  wind  was  light 
and  baffling,  we  did  not  commence  heaving  on  the 
windlass  till  after  breakfast.  About  eight  o'clock, 
a  steady  breeze  set  in  from  the  north-west.  Our 
anchor  was  then  weighed — the  topsails  were  sheeted 
and  hoisted  home — the  top-gallant  sails  were  set, 
and  the  good  ship  Hudson,  bowing  gracefully  to 
the  breeze,  glided  gently  from  her  moorings.  In 
an  hour  the  white  and  tasteful  cottages  of  the 
little  village  of  Sag  Harbor  began  to  sink  in  the 
distance.  By  twelve  o'clock  the  chief  head-lands 
that  bounded  the  bay  were  passed — Block  Island 
hove  in  view — Montauk  point  was  rounded,  and 
the  blue  waters  of  the  broad  Atlantic  lay  spread 
before  us. 


First  appearance  on  tbe  Atlantic  Ocean  and  visit  to  FayaL 

To  HIM  who  has  been  reared  in  wealth  and 
nurtured  in  luxury,  how  many  painful  reflections 
arise  at  the  prospect  of  quitting  home  for  distant 
oceans  and  foreign  climes.  The  kind  father,  the 
gentle  mother,  the  affectionate  sister,  and  the  smiles 
and  tender  greetings  of  flattering  friends,  all  crowd 
themselves  upon  the  mind  to  swell  the  heart,  and 
choke  the  utterance ;  but  to  the  poor  boy  of  the 
day  laborer — to  him  who  has  been  permitted  to 
grow  up  like  a  wild  sapling  of  the  forest,  rather 
than  as  a  tender  plant  of  the  nursery,  how  few 
tender  associations  of  this  nature,  link  themselves. 
From  my  earliest  childhood,  my  thoughts  had  been 
associated  with  the  cold  frown  of  the  master,  and 
the  shrill  scolding  voice  of  the  mistress ;  and  when 
once  grown  to  be  my  own  master,  and  free,  I  felt 
as  wild  and  joyous  as  a  bird  released  from  its 
cage,  to  soar  aloft  in  the  free  and  open  atmosphere. 
Was  it  strange,  then,  that  I  should  feel  little  or  no 
regret  at  quitting  my  home  and  my  country  ?  But 
it  will  be  said  that  I  had  friends.  Yes  ;  I  had  left 
friends  behind  in  Philadelphia,  and  friends  in  Sag 
(58) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         69 

Harbor  ;  but  they  were  friends  of  an  hour — mere 
sunshine  friends,  who,  on  the  approach  of  the  first 
cloud  of  adversity,  would  withhold  the  light  of  their 
hearts,  reflecting  the  radiance  of  their  smiles  on 
other  faces  and  on  other  forms.  It  is  true,  that  when 
I  beheld  the  last  dim  outline  of  Montauk  sinking  in 
the  horizon,  I  felt  a  species  of  melancholy  stealing 
upon  me ;  but  there  was  no  tremulous  pulsation  of 
the  heart,  no  gentle  tear-drops  to  pay  their  sad 
and  parting  tribute  to  the  "land  of  the  free,  and 
the  home  of  the  brave,"  and  when  that  faint  streak 
of  land  had  finally  disappeared  in  the  far  west,  I 
felt  myself  launched  as  a  lonely  wanderer  on  the 
wide  and  trackless  bosom  of  the  ocean. 

It  was  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when 
the  shores  of  Long  Island  were  last  visible.  The 
anchors  had  been  secured,  the  chain  cables  stowed 
down  in  the  lockers,  and  every  thing  about  the  ship 
made  snug  and  taut  for  sea.  The  captain  ordered 
all  hands  to  be  called  aft  on  the  quater  deck,  and 
proceeded  to  divide  the  ship's  company  into  watches, 
I  was  cast  in  the  starboard  watch,  and  my  friend 
Leighton  in  the  larboard.  The  starboard  division 
had  the  first  dog  watch  but  before  it  had  been  half 
an  hour  on  deck,  I  began  to  feel  the  nausea  of  sea 
sickness.  As  the  night  approached  the  wind  fresh- 
ened up,  and  the  sea  getting  rougher  every  minute 
increased  my  distress.  At  dark,  the  wind  com- 
menced blowing  a  regular  gale  ;  and  the  black  and 
heavy  looking  clouds  that  were  fast  gathering  up  ID 


60         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  west,  gave  evident  tokens  of  an  approaching 
storm.  Presently  a  broad  sheet  of  lightning  cast 
its  red  glare  across  the  sea,  lighting  up  the  white 
waves  far  and  near.  The  captain,  acting  upon 
this  timely  hint,  proceeded  to  furl  the  top  gallant 
sails  and  double  reef  the  top-sails.  To  effect  this, 
the  ship  was  luffed  up  into  the  wind,  and  begun  to 
pitch  and  toss  at  a  furious  rate.  This  was  too 
much  for  me,  who  had  now  reached  the  very  acme 
of  sea  sickness.  I  staggered  to  the  forecastle,  and 
crawled  into  my  bunk,  but  to  my  most  direful  dis- 
tress, found  that  this  brought  no  relief  to  my 
troubles.  The  ship  kept  rolling,  pitching  and 
tossing  more  alarmingly  than  ever,  with  the  in- 
creasing storm,  and  at  last  a  heavy  sea  breaking 
over  the  bow  of  the  vessel,  sent  a  few  hogsheads 
of  salt  water  roaring  down  the  fore-scuttle.  This 
was  a  dreadful  shock  to  my  nerves.  I  fancied  that 
the  ship  was  now  sinking,  and  began  to  lament  the 
folly  that  had  induced  me  to  sacrifice  the  comfort 
of  a  shoe  shop  for  such  a  miserable  and  untimely 
end.  I  thought  it  too  terrible  to  die  housed  up  in 
a  narrow  forecastle,  and  made  a  desperate  effort  to 
get  on  deck;  but  as  I  got  my  head  up  the  scuttle 
hole,  another  sea  broke  over  the  forecastle,  engulf- 
ing me,  head  and  ears.  Being  weak  and  giddy 
with  sea  sickness,  I  found  myself  unable  to  main- 
tain my  footing,  under  such  a  hydraulic  pressure, 
and  sliding  from  the  steps  of  the  ladder,  I  was 
landed  on  my  back,  fluttering  and  blowing  like  a 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         61 

porpoise,  in  the  lee  scuppers  of  the  forecastle. 
Alas !  who  can  conceive  the  horror  of  that  mo- 
ment ?  Before  I  was  swept  from  the  companion 
ladder,  I  had  heard  the  loud  report  of  the  thunder, 
the  roar  of  the  elements,  the  rattling  and  clatter 
of  the  sails  and  rigging,  together  with  the  shouts, 
curses,  and  yells  of  the  captain  and  mates,  and  my 
distempered  imagination,  dwelling  upon  horrible 
images,  conceived  them  to  be  the  despairing  cries 
of  the  drowning  crew.  At  this  distressing  moment,- 
a  friendly  guest  appeared  in  the  forecastle,  in  the 
person  of  a  herculean  negro  sailor,  named  Sam 
Malony.  He  saw  my  distress,  and,  attributing  it 
all  to  sea  sickness,  kindly  dragged  me  from  my 
watery  bed  and  laid  me  in  my  bunk. 

"Is  all  lost,  Sam?"  inquired  I,  with  a  look  of 
despair. 

"  No,  not  quite  all,"  answered  Sam,  laughing  to 
himself.  "  But  part  of  my  supper's  lost,  an  I's 
come  to  lay  in  a  fresh  cargo ;"  and  drawing  a 
biscuit  and  a  piece  of  old  meat  from  the  bread 
barge,  he  proceeded  to  dispatch  them  in  quite  a 
summary  manner. 

The  cool  indifference  of  this  old  salt  of  the  ocean, 
made  me  suspect  that  my  fears  had  exaggerated 
our  danger,  and  I,  at  last  ventured  to  ask  him,  who 
was  at  the  helm. 

"  Mark  Leighton,"  was  the  answer. 

I  had  read  the  "  Headsman,"  the  "  B-ed  Rover," 
and  other  novels,  in  which  the  lives  of  a  whol« 
G 


62         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

ship's  crew  were  represented  as  having  been  pre- 
served by  the  power  and  skill  of  a  single  experi- 
enced arm,  and  I  was  vain  enough  to  believe  that 
no  ship  could  possibly  founder  at  sea  with  Mark 
Leighton  at  her  helm.  He  was  my  friend,  and  I 
fondly  persuaded  myself  that  his  own  personal 
safety,  as  well  as  mine,  would  call  into  exertion 
his  utmost  skill.  I  fancied  that  the  ship  already 
moved  easier,  and  asked  Sam  if  he  did  not  think 
so  too.  He  said  that  the  reason  why  she  ran 
easier,  was  because  she  was  now  scudding  before 
the  wind ;  but  I  thought  it  was  because  my  friend 
was  at  the  helm,  and  consoling  myself  with  the 
agreeable  reflection  that  I  was  now  safe,  soon  fell 
into  a  refreshing  sleep. 

On  the  following  morning  I  felt  greatly  relieved 
from  my  fears,  as  well  as  of  my  sickness,  and  at 
eight  bells  made  another  effort  to  get  on  deck. 
This  time  I  was  more  successful  than  I  had  been 
the  night  before,  and  although  the  storm  and  wind 
had  subsided  into  comparative  calmness,  yet  the 
waters  remained  in  great  agitation,  and  the  vessel 
kept  plunging  at  such  a  rate  as  soon  reproduced 
the  nausea  of  the  previous  night.  I  quickly 
crawled  back  into  my  bunk,  from  which  I  made 
but  few  more  excursions  for  a  period  of  four  days. 

The  sixth  day  after  our  departure  from  Sag 
Harbor,  the  captain  gave  orders  for  the  green 
hands  to  take  their  look-out  at  the  mast  head,  with 
the  rest  of  the  ship's  crew.  I  had  never  yet  been 


FIVE  TEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         63 

aloft  higher  than  the  futtock  shrouds,  and  conse- 
quently this  command  sounded  as  dismal  as  a  death 
warrant  to  me.  There  was,  however,  no  remedy, 
but  up  I  must  go,  and  I  mounted  the  fore  shrouds 
.with  a  palpitating  heart.  I  reached  with  ease  to 
the  foretop,  hut  here  appeared  an  insurmountable 
obstacle.  I  paused,  and  began  to  wonder  in  my 
mind  why  it  was  that  ship  builders  should  be  so 
heartless  as  not  to  leave  a  lubber's  hole  large 
enough  for  a  poor  cowardly  landsman  to  thrust  his 
head  and  shoulders  through.  The  mate,  perceiving 
that  I  had  stopped,  shouted  to  me  to  go  on.  I  saw 
at  once  that  there  was  no  alternative,  but  round 
the  top  I  must  go,  and  shutting  my  eyes  at  the 
awful  prospect,  I  clutched  the  futtock  staves  with  a 
desperate  grip,  and  worked  my  dangerous  way  out 
to  the  rim  of  the  top.  Here  I  ventured  to  open 
my  eyes,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  an  observation. 
I  now  run  my  left  arm  through  the  lanyards  of  the 
fore  topmast  rigging,  and  catching  with  my  right 
hand  on  the  shrouds  above,  with  a  great  muscular 
effort  drew  myself  into  the  top.  A  merry  laugh 
from  Mark  Leighton  proclaimed  from  the  deck  that 
I  had  gained  the  victory.  I  felt  a  good  deal  like 
shouting  a  loud  "hurrah  !"  at  my  own  success,  but 
on  casting  my  eyes  upward,  and  perceiving  the 
immense  distance  which  I  had  yet  to  perform,  my 
heart  died  within  me,  and  I  re-commenced  my 
heavenward  journey  "  in  fear  and  treflftling."  In 
going  up  the  fore  topmast  shrouds  I  met  John  An- 


64         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tonia,  the  person  whom  I  was  going  to  relieve.  To 
pass  him  in  so  narrow  a  space,  appeared  to  me 
another  fearful  difficulty.  He  might  possibly  play 
some  trick  upon  me,  and  precipitate  me  into  the 
sea.  But  John  was  a  very  civil  man  for  a  Portu- 
guese, and  guessing  my  fears,  advised  me  in  all 
cases  to  keep  hold  of  the  shrouds  instead  of  the 
ratlines,  in  going  alow  and  aloft,  as  the  seizings  of 
the  latter  might  at  any  time  give  way  with  my 
weight,  and  precipitate  me  overboard.  I  took  the 
advice  of  John,  and  seizing  hold  of  the  shrouds 
mounted  up  to  the  top  gallant  cross-trees,  where  I 
took  my  seat  in  the  crow's  nest,  and  commenced 
scanning  the  sea  for  whale.  The  second  trip  aloft 
was  attended  with  less  difficulty,  and  after  a  few 
Jays  I  could  ascend  and  descend  with  as  much  ease 
and  alacrity  as  the  most  experienced  seaman  on 
board. 

When  I  left  Sag  Harbor,  I  had  the  greatest  con- 
fidence in  the  kindness  and  friendly  disposition  of 
the  officers  of  the  Hudson.  The  captain  had  been 
very  pleasant  and  affable  to  me,  and  the  first  and 
second  mates  I  had  looked  upon  as  my  most  par- 
ticular friends.  Yet  before  I  was  three  weeks  at 
sea,  I  had  ample  reason  to  suspect  that  the  kind- 
ness and  friendship  they  had  formerly  manifested 
for  me,  were  altogether  feigned.  The  captain  now 
addressed  himself  very  seldom  to  any  member  of 

the  crew,  a&d  when  he  did  his  words  were  spoken 

-      «T  i 

with  an  imperative  growl,  such  as  while  it  wrought 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         Co 

obedience  to  his  commands,  stirred  up  a  surly  feel- 
ing in  those  to  whom  his  orders  were  directed  ;  and 
the  mates,  divesting  themselves  of  their  previous 
smiles  and  pleasantry,  assumed  a  stern,  authorita- 
tive look,  and  accompanied  their  commands  with 
such  curses  and  oaths  as  contrasted  strangely  with 
the  civility  and  politeness  they  had  displayed  at 
the  Duke's.  This  disagreeable  change  troubled 
me  for  some  time,  but  by  degrees  it  wore  away,  so 
that  by  the  time  I  was  six  months  at  sea,  I  became 
well  satisfied  that  an  agreeable,  gentlemanly  officer 
on  land  may  prove  but  an  indifferent  sort  of  person 
at  sea. 

About  the  middle  of  August  we  reached  the 
Western  Isles.  It  was  the  intention  of  Captain 
Green  to  touch  at  Fayal,  and  take  in  a  supply  of 
vegetables.  As  we  reached  the  offing  of  the  town 
a  boat  filled  with  men  was  seen  approaching  the 
ship.  The  mate  called  to  the  men  on  the  forecastle 
to  keep  a  bright  eye  to  windward,  as  the  Algerines 
were  about  to  board  us.  I  did  not  comprehend  the 
meaning  of  this  order,  but  kept  my  eyes  fixed  on 
the  motions  of  Leighton.  All  the  clothing  about 
the  forecastle  was  quickly  gathered  up  and  whipped 
into  the  chests,  which  were  immediately  locked  and 
the  keys  put  out  of  .sight.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
boat  arrived  alongside,  and  about  ten-  or  twelve 
roughly  clad  Islanders  tumbled  over  the  bulwarks  on 
deck.  The  party  ran  about  the  ship,  injuring  for  to- 
bacco, offering  oranges,  grapes,  figs,  and  other  fruit, 
6* 


66         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

in  exchange  for  it.  A  few  rushed  into  the  fore- 
castle. Mark  Leighton  and  I  followed.  They  had 
already  seized  the  bread  barge,  and  having  emptied 
the  contents  on'  the  floor,  were  fighting  among 
themselves  for  the  biscuits.  One  fellow  had  pulled 
up  the  bedding  in  Mark's  bunk,  where  he  had  found 
some  clothing,  and  was  very  coolly  shoving  a  pair 
of  drawers  into  his  bosom.  Mark  took  them  from 
him,  and  for  his  pains  gave  the  gentleman  a  very 
deliberate  kick  in  his  seat  of  honor,  at  which  he 
bowed  politely,  and  walked  on  deck.  In  the  mean- 
time old  negro  Sam  found  another  visitor  insinua- 
ting himself  rather  too  familiarly  into  his  domin- 
ions. Without  exchanging  a  word  with  the  covetous 
Islander,  old  Sam  grasped  him  by  the  collar  with 
one  hand,  and  placing  the  other  on  the  stern  of  his 
trowsers,  sent  him  spinning  up  on  deck  as  grace- 
fully as  if  he  had  been  particularly  soaped  for  the 
occasion.  The  party,  soon  finding  that  nothing 
was  to  be  acquired  by  pilfering  from  such  an  un- 
ceremonious ship's  company,  repaired  again  to  their 
boat,  and  cursing  the  "  Filio  do  Pootos  Ameri- 
canos" rowed  off  towards  the  shore. 

As  the  harbor  of  Fayal  is  somewhat  difficult  of 
entrance,  the  captain  gave  orders  to  the  mates,  to 
keep  the  ship  lying  on  and  off,  in  the  roadstead,  until 
he  could  arrange  his  matters  with  the  vegetables. 
He  then  proceeded  on  shore,  where  he  purchased 
two  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  and  onions,  which 
were  sent  on  board  by  shore  boats.  The  price  of 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         67 

these  vegetables  varied  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
cents  per  bushel. 

As  the  following  day  was  to  be  spent  in  taking 
our  vegetables  on  board,  I  obtained  permission  from 
the  captain  to  go  on  shore,  and  have  a  look  at  the 
town.  I  was  accompanied  in  my  visit  by  old  black 
Sam.  On  reaching  the  landing,  we  were  accosted 
by  the  custom  house  officer,  who  examined  us  very 
closely,  and  thrust  his  hands,  in  an  unceremoni- 
ous manner,  into  our  pockets,  in  search  of  contra- 
band tobacco.  If  a  whole  plug  was  found,  the 
owner  was  permitted  to  twist  off  what  he  deemed 
sufficient  for  the  day,  and  the  balance  was  retained 
in  the  hands  of  the  officer,  to  be  delivered  over  on 
his  return  to  the  ship. 

But  little  can  be  said  in  praise  of  the  general 
appearance  of  the  town  of  Fayal.  The  houses, 
though  mostly  built  of  stone,  seldom  exceed  two 
stories  in  height,  and  in  the  suburbs,  are  so  low, 
contracted  and  inelegant,  as  to  resemble  rows  of 
huts.  The  streets  are  crooked,  and  ill-paved.  The 
whole  business  of  the  place  is  limited  to  the  princi- 
pal thoroughfare,  the  pavements  of  which  are  kept 
so  crowded,  and  lumbered  up  with  bales  and  boxes, 
that  one  is  sometimes  in  danger  of  having  his  legs 
broken  in  walking  along  them.  The  costume  of  the 
female  portion  of  the  inhabitants  presents  rather  a 
peculiar  appearance  to  an  American  eye.  The 
ladies  of  the  city  usually  appear  in  the  streets, 
either  veiled,  or  covered  with  large  black  hoods, 


68          FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

contrasting  strangely  with  those  from  the  country, 
who  appear  to  discard  the  cowl-like  cloak  of  their 
town  friends,  and  in  lieu  thereof,  decorate  their  per- 
sons with  short  gowns,  and  broad  brimmed  straw 
hats.  Priests,  monks  and  friars,  are  very  numer- 
ous. They  are  also  held  in  remarkable  reverence 
by  the  people,  who  kept  bowing  and  scraping  to 
them,  whenever  their  dark  robes,  and  shovel-shaped 
hats  appeared.  I  was  much  surprised  to  find  that 
so  large  a  portion  of  the  population  consisted  of 
beggars.  Crowds  of  worthless  individuals  of  both 
sexes,  assail  one  at  all  points,  and  test  the  benevo- 
lence of  every  stranger  they  meet.  I  had  not 
walked  two  squares  through  the  street,  before  I 
was  surrounded  by  as  many  dozens  of  these  vaga- 
bonds, both  male  and  female,  who  kept  crying  after 
me  in  piteous  accents,  "  Oh  !  Jack  I  por  amar  de 
Deo  hum  vinten  !"  I  got  out  my  purse  to  give  a 
distressed  looking  female  a  few  coppers,  when  the 
rest  shoved  her  quickly  away,  and  commenced 
shouting,  and  jabbering,  in  such  an  angry  mood 
that  I  again  put  my  money  in  my  pocket,  and 
slipped  hastily  from  the  crowd  for  fear  of  being 
robbed.  The  usual  method  of  transporting  vegeta- 
bles, and  other  commodities,  from  the  country  to 
the  town,  is  on  the  heads  of  individuals.  Carriages 
are  strangers  at  Fayal.  Horses  and  mules,  I  saw 
none.  Asses  are  abundant,  and  appeared  exclu- 
sively in  the  patronage  of  the  gentry,  and  priest- 
hood, \rho  journeyed  to  and  from  town  upon  them 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.          69 

in  such  state,  as  frequently  brought  their  feet  in, 
contact  with  the  ground.  The  only  kind  of  vehicle 
I  saw,  was  a  species  of  cart  drawn  promiscuously 
by  oxen,  bulls  and  cows.  The  wheels  are  made  of 
plank,  and  in  lieu  of  tires,  broad-headed  iron  spikes 
were  driven  into  the  rims,  to  keep  the  wood  from 
wearing  off.  The  whole  construction  was  rude  and 
barbarous,  and  as  they  labored  their  rugged  way, 
over  the  ill-paved  streets,  their  axles  gave  forth  such 
a  chorus  of  groans,  and  schreeches,  as  told  loudly 
against  the  luxury  of  grease.  As  Fayal  is  seldom 
troubled  with  travellers,  the  town,  in  consequence, 
is  destitute  of  inns,  but  there  are  places  where  a 
stranger  may,  at  times,  find  something  to  eat. 
Through  the  course  of  the  day,  I  called  for  dinner 
at  a  house  near  the  centre  of  the  town,  and  about 
an  hour  after  calling  for  it,  a  single  dish,  with  a 
spoon  in  it,  was  placed  on  a  small  box  in  the  middle 
of  the  room,  and  a  mat  thrown  on  the  ground  for  a 
seat.  The  mess  appeared  to  be  a  species  of  chow- 
der, and  on  tasting  it,  I  fancied  it  a  compound  of 
equal  portions  of  vinegar,  onions,  fish,  garlic,  and 
cayenne  pepper.  Three  spoonfuls  raised  a  perspi- 
ration on  me,  and  I  then  paid  the  landlady  a  pis- 
tareen  to  be  excused  from  eating  the  balance. 

At  the  close  of  the  day,  old  Sam  and  I  being 
perfectly  satisfied  with  our  adventures,  concluded 
to  return  to  the  ship.  On  arriving  at  the  landing, 
where  a  boat  was  waiting  to  convey  us  off,  Sam  be- 
gan to  inquire  for  his  plug  of  tobacco  ;  but  neither 


70          FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tobacco  nor  officer  could  be  found,  and  Sam  returned 
to  the  ship,  cursing  the  officer,  as  well  as  Fayal  and 
its  customs. 

On  the  third  day  after  our  appearance  off  Fayal, 
vre  completed  our  business  at  that  place,  and  set- 
ting all  sail,  stood  away,  with  a  fair  wind,  for  the 
Cape  Verd  Islands.  At  sunset  we  had  made  an 
offing  of  about  twelve  miles,  when  the  captain 
ordered  us  to  "  bout  ship."  As  the  wind  was  fair 
for  a  southerly  run,  this  order  seemed  inexplicable 
to  a  portion  of  the  crew.  T$ut  the  vessel  was 
directed  back  towards  Fayal,  and  as  night  closed 
in  on  us,  I  perceived  the  mates,  and  boat-steerers, 
in  the  after  part  of  the  ship,  busily  occupied  in 
some  mysterious  proceedings.  At  nine  o'clock,  a 
light  was  hung  under  the  bow,  and  half  an  hour 
afterwards  a  boat  full  of  men  appeared  looming 
through  the  darkness,  within  hailing  distance  of 
the  ship.  The  captain  ordered  us  to  throw  a  line 
to  the  boat,  which  we  did,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
drew  her  alongside.  The  word  was  now  passed  for 
every  man  in  the  ship,  who  had  any  tobacco  to  dis- 
pose of,  to  bring  it  aft  on  the  quarter-deck.  In  less 
than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  some  dozen  boxes  and 
as  many  kegs  and  half-kegs  made  their  appear- 
ance and  were  immediately  passed  into  the  boat. 
In  the  meantime  the  captain  and  the  master  of  the 
boat,  who  was  evidently  a  smuggler,  proceeded  to 
the  cabin  to  make  arrangements  for  the  pay.  A 
few  casks  of  wine  were  then  hoisted  from  the  boat 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  TJIE  MAST.         71 

on  board  our  ship,  after  which  the  vessels  soon 
separated,  and  we  once  more  changing  our  course, 
stood  away  for  the  South. 

Our  course  now  lay  for  the  South  Atlantic 
ocean,  and  for  a  period  of  forty  days  before  we 
arrived  on  what  is  technically  called  the  "  Whale 
ground,"  our  time  was  chiefly  spent  in  grinding 
harpoons  and  lances,  manufacturing  spun  yarn, 
and  in  rigging  up  our  boats,  fish  lines,  and  cutting- 
in  gear.  Early  in  October  we  got  our  first  sight 
of  a  whale.  This  was  in  latitude  23°  south,  and 
longitude  20°  west  from  Greenwich.  One  of  the 
boat-steerers  raised  from  the  mast-head,  the  cry, 
"  There  she  blows !"  when  the  main-topsail  was 
thrown  a"back,  and  the  ship  brought  to  nearly  a 
stationary  position.  The  whale  being  visible  from 
the  deck,  all  hands  were  at  once  called  to  the 
boats.  The  captain  giving  the  mate  precedence  in 
the  chase,  the  boats  were  rapidly' lowered  into  the 
water,  and  one  after  another  moved  off  to  the 
attack. 

In  consequence  of  a  ten  inch  block  having  fallen 
on  my  left  great  toe  a  few  days  before,  and  crippled 
rne  for  the  time  being,  I  was  not  a  party  in  this 
first  chase,  the  cooper  having  taken  my  place  in 
the  third  mate's  boat ;  but  I  was,  nevertheless, 
able  to  be  about  the  decks  and  had  an  opportunity 
of  witnessing  the  operations.  The  mate  proceeded 
very  deliberately  to  within  about  fifty  yards  of  the 
fish,  when  he  made  a  motion  for  the  men  to  spring 


72          FIVE  YEAHS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

to  their  oars,  while  the  boat-steerer,  electing  his 
oar,  stood  up  in  the  bow,  poising  in  his  hand  the 
harpoon  ready  for  a  descent.  The  boat,  impelled 
by  the  strength  of  the  rowers,  darted  forward  with 
almost  incredible  velocity  until  it  came  in  apparent 
contact  with  the  whale.  "  Give  it  to  her  !"  shouted 
the  mate  in  a  voice  that  was  distinctly  audible  at 
the  ship,  and  almost  simultaneously,  the  unerring 
iron  descended.  The  huge  flukes  of  the  black 
monster  were  for  an  instant,  visible  in  the  air,  and 
then  disappeared  in  a  cloud  of  spray.  For  a  short 
interval  nothing  was  to  be  seen  from  the  ship  but 
the  boat  and  a  sheet  of  white  bubbles.  The  men 
had  elected  their  oars  and  were  sitting  calmly  in 
the  boat.  Presently  the  boat  began  to  move  to 
windward  at  a  rapid  rate,  and  the  whale  was  dis- 
covered about  a  hundred  yards  ahead.  The  cap- 
tain now  made  an  effort  to  fasten,  and  sprang  to 
windward  with  the  utmost  speed,  but  at  each 
stroke  of  the  oars  it  became  more  evident  that  he 
would  not  be  successful.  In  less  than  an  hour  the 
mate's  boat  was  barely  discernable  about  six  miles 
to  windward  of  the  ship.  Every  scheme  that 
could  be  thought  of,  was  resorted  to  for  the  pur- 
pose of  bringing  the  unruly  rascal  to  a  halt,  but 
all  plans  were  alike  useless.  The  fish  still  per- 
severed in  being  refractory,  and  the  boat's  crew, 
for  fear  of  losing  sight  of  the  ship,  were  eventu- 
ally obliged  to  cut  loose  from  their  prey  and  return 
home.  Thus  ended  our  first  attempt  at  a  capture. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFOIIE  THE  MAST.          73 

A  few  days  after  the  preceding  occurrences, 
another  alarm  was  raised.  From  the  appearance 
of  things,  it  was  plainly  evident  that  we  had  fallen 
in  with  a  school  of  spermaceti  whale.  These  being 
more  valuable  than  the  common  whale,  there  was 
of  course  a  greater  desire  manifested  for  their 
capture.  As  the  sea  for  a  while  appeared  full  of 
them  at  all  points  of  the  compass,  there  was  no 
time  lost  in  determining  who  should  take  the  lead, 
each  boat  having  the  privilege  of  grasping  where 
it  best  could.  I  being  now  well  enough  to  row, 
took  my  seat  at  the  tub  oar  in  the  third  mate's 
boat.  Before  we  had  proceeded  forty  rods  from 
the  ship,  the  first  and  second  mate's  boats  were 
each  fast  to  a  whale.  In  a  few  minutes  our  boat- 
steerer  fastened  to  a  third.  We  were  towed  along 
but  a  short  distance  when  we  discovered  that  our 
prize  was  little  inclined  to  place  his  chances  of 
life  on  leg  bail.  He  rolled,  snorted,  and  plunged, 
as  if  in  a  terrible  rage ;  yet,  notwithstanding  his 
warlike  manoeuvres,  the  mate  soon  succeeded  in 
lancing  him,  upon  which  the  boat  drew  off  at  a 
short  distance  to  await  the  death.  The  flurry  had 
scarcely  subsided  when  the  fish  was  found  to  be 
sinking,  and  in  this  unlooked-for  misfortune,  reason 
as  well  as  interest  dictated  that  if  possible,  we 
should  save  our  line.  To  this  end,  a  turn  was 
taken  with  it  round  the  loggerhead,  and  all  the 
strain  the  boat  would  permit,  was  suffered  to  rest 
upon  it,  with  the  hope  of  drawing  the  iron  from 


74         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE 

the  body  of  the  sinking  fish.     But  here  again  our 
efforts  were  attended  with  another  and  more  start- 
ling calamity.      A  whale   which   was,    doubtless, 
unconscious  of  an  enemy  moving  in  its  vicinity, 
was  seen  coming  up  directly  under  our  boat.     The 
alarm  was  instantly  given  and  an  attempt  made  to 
change  the  position  of  the  boat ;  but  the  weight 
of  the  sinking  whale  defeated  the  movement,  and 
in  another  instant  the  boat  and  her  whole  crew 
were  raised  high  in  the  air.     Every  man  jumped 
with  his  oar  into  the  sea  to  save  his  life,  while  the 
unthinking  whale,  frightened  at  the  havoc  his  care- 
lessness had  occasioned,  darted  away  like  lightning, 
leaving  the  trembling  boat  on  the  agitated  water, 
with  half   her   side    staved    in.     Old   black    Sam 
swam  to  the  boat  and  succeeded  in  gating  it  right 
side  up,  but  it  was  too  much   shattered  for  the 
reception  of  her  crew.     The  third  mate  did  all  in 
his  power  to  encourage  us  in  our  dangerous  situa- 
tion, and  aided  such  as  could  not  swim  well,  in 
getting  hold  of  the  gunwale  of  the  boat.     The 
captain,  who  had  witnessed   our  misfortune,  soon 
arrived  to  our  assistance.     Ourselves  and  our  bro- 
ken boat  were  afterwards  taken  to  the  ship,  and 
thus  ended  my  first  adventure  in  the  whale  fishery. 


Containing  something  the  Writer  never  knew  until  he  went  to  Sea. 

THE  reader  should  perhaps  be  apprised  that  in 
the  undertaking  of  this  work,  the  writer  has  been 
influenced  as  much  with  a  view  to  his  instruction 
and  entertainment  as  to  his  personal  amusement. 
Believing  that  a  calling  so  enterprizing,  and  at  the 
same  time  so  exciting  and  hazardous  as  that  of 
whaling  would  arrest  his  most  particular  attention, 
the  author  has  limited  this  chapter  to  the  modus 
operandi  of  the  whole  business.  Those  of  his 
readers  who  have  no  inclination  to  wade  through 
so  oily  a  chapter,  are  recommended  to  pass  on  to 
the  next. 

The  whale,  or  rather  balena,  as  it  is  called  by 
naturalists,  is  indisputably  the  largest  animal  in  the 
world.  It  doubtless  herds  most  numerously  in  the 
regions  of  the  polar  seas,  but  abounds  in  all  oceans, 
and  may  be  caught  wherever  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  food  exists  for  its  nourishment.  There  are 
several  varieties  which  attain  to  a  considerable  size, 
but  I  shall  only  call  to  notice  the  three  principal 
ones.  First  among  the  varieties,  may  be  classed 
the  balena  mysticetus,  usually  called  the  common 
or  "  right"  whale  by  sailors,  as  it  is  the  most  usual 

(76) 


76         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

object  of  their  pursuit.  Second,  the  physalis  or 
finback,  a  large  species,  but  never  sought  after. 
And  third,  the  cachalot  or  spermaceti  whale,  which 
in  the  quality  and  fineness  of  its  oil,  exceeds  all 
the  rest. 

The  size  of  the  common  whale  has  furnished  a 
subject  for  much  speculation  and  exaggeration 
among  some  writers.  A  few  have  represented  it 
of  the  enormous  length  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
feet,  while  others,  less  inclined  to  the  marvellous, 
have  contented  themselves  with  ending  it  at  one 
hundred  and  fifty.  I  am  sorry  that  my  experience 
can  sustain  neither  of  these  lengths,  as  I  am  truly 
fond  of  a  good  fish  story;  but  the  truth  is  the 
credulity  of  the  age  is  growing  so  suspicious  that  a 
man  must  be  careful  what  he  writes.  I  aided  in 
the  capture  of  eleven  of  the  animals,  and  the 
largest  of  them  did  not,  at  the  most  favorable  esti- 
mate, exceed  fifty-two  feet  in  length.  The  same 
fish  measured  twelve  feet  in  diameter  at  the  thick- 
est point  of  the  body,  and  about  fourteen  feet 
across  the  "  flukes"  or  tail.  Eighty-nine  barrels 
of  oil  were  netted  from  the  body,  and  eighteen 
hundred  weight  of  baleen  or  bone.  It  is  just  to 
observe,  however,  that  this  was  not  one  of  the 
largest  of  the  variety.  Captain  Green,  in  his  for- 
mer cruise,  captured  one  from  which  two  hundred 
and  five  barrels  of  oil  were  taken,  but  its  estimated 
length  reached  only  sixty-three  feet.  The  male 
of  the  spermaceti  variety  grows  to  a  much  greater 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         77 

length  than  the  common.  We  took  -one  on  the 
coast  of  Patagonia,  measuring  sixty-eight  feet  in 
length,  from  which  we  procured  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  barrels  of  oil.  We  would  have  been  able  to 
get  more,  but  while  engaged  in  bailing  the  case, 
the  wind  rose  and  the  sea  became  so  rough  that  we 
were  obliged  to  cut  the  ponderous  bulk  adrift.  By 
this  unlucky  though  necessary  act,  we  lost  about 
five  or  six  barrels  of  the  finest  and  most  valuable 
oil.  Hence,  though  my  experience  is  inconclusive, 
in  respect  to  the  average  length  of  whales,  yet  it  is 
sufficient  to  limit  it  to  a  mark  somewhat  short  of 
that  allowed  by  the  authors  referred  to. 

The  mouth  of  the  common  or  "  right"  whale,  is 
an  organ  of  very  peculiar  structure.  In  large 
specimens  of  the  race  it  will  measure,  when  fully 
opened,  from  eight  to  ten  feet  high,  and  from  six 
to  nine  feet  wide.  It  contains  no  teeth,  and  huge 
as  the  animal  is  in  bulk,  the  diameter  of  its  gullet 
reaches  scarcely  the  width  of  two  inches.  From 
the  narrow  formation  of  the  throat,  it  may  be 
inferred  that  its  food  is  rather  of  a  diminutive 
character ;  and,  indeed,  such  is  really  the  fact,  for 
it  derives  its  sustenance  entirely  from  millions  of 
the  smaller  inhabitants  of  the  deep.  To  permit 
this,  the  mouth  is  provided  with  a  singular  appa- 
ratus, composed  of  the  baleen  or  whalebone.  This 
bone  is  arranged  in  two  rows  of  thin  plates,  pro- 
jecting from  a  line  in  the  centre  of  the  arch  of  the 
palate,  and  with  a  slight  curve  extending  downward 
7* 


78        'FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

on  either  side  to  the  lower  jaw.  There  ars  some 
three  hundred  of  these  plates  or  "slabs"  on  each 
side  of  the  mouth,  which  are  set  so  close  together 
as  not  to  admit  the  finger  between  them.  When 
separated,  these  plates,  in  appearance,  are  not 
unlike  a  common  cradling  scythe.  The  outer  sides, 
near  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  thickness,  are  smooth 
and  square,  while  the  inner  sides  taper  gradually 
away  into  sharp  edges,  which  are  overgrown  with 
long  dark  fringes,  resembling  the  hair  of  a  horse's 
tail. 

The  use  of  these  "  slabs,"  with  their  hairy  edges, 
is  very  obvious.  As  already  observed,  the  animal 
feeds  on  a  species  of  sea  shrimp,  of  extraordinary 
minuteness,  which,  congregating  in  masses  of  aston- 
ishing greatness,  makes  the  surface  of  the  sea 
present,  in  many  places,  a  blood  red  hue  for  miles 
in  extent.  These  little  aquatic  animals,  in  size  and 
shape,  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  a  common  house 
cricket.  They  are,  however,  red,  and  lie  in  im- 
mense swarms  or  schools  immediately  beneath  the 
surface  of  the  water.  Into  these  swarms  the  whale 
floats  with  open  mouth,  scooping  up,  at  a  single 
effort,  whole  hogsheads  of  its  unsuspecting  victims, 
upon  which  the  mouth  is  closed,  the  water  is  ejected 
through  the  plates  of  baleen,  and  the  hairy  fringes, 
acting  as  a  net-work,  retain  the  minute  particles  for 
mastication. 

The  common  method  by  which  sailors  distinguish 
the  different  varieties  of  whale  at  sea,  is  by  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         79 

Bpout  or  blow-hole.  The  rorquals  or  finback  variety 
have  but  one  blow-hole.  The  spout  generally 
reaches  to  the  height  of  from  twenty  to  twenty-five 
feet.  It  is  perpendicular  in  ascent,  and  subsides  in 
a  vapor  of  a  very  smoky  appearance.  The  finback 
is  seldom  attacked  by  fishers,  it  being  difficult  to 
capture,  and  never  very  fat.  The  common  or 
"right"  whale,  has  two  blow-holes,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  centre  of  the  head.  The  spouts  diverge 
a  little  from  each  other  in  their  ascent,  in  a  forked 
manner,  but  rarely  attain  so  great  a  height  as  that 
of  the  finback.  A  forked  spout  never  fails  of 
awakening  from  the  mast-head  of  a  whale  ship  the 
well  known  cry  of  "  There  she  blows  \"  The 
spermaceti  whale  has  but  one  blow-hole,  which  is 
situated  in  the  fore-part  of  the  head,  immediately 
over  the  nose.  The  spout  is  thrown  a  little  for- 
ward and  upward  from  the  head,  describing,  in  its 
course  a  semi-circle  on  the  water.  It  is  white  and 
vapory  in  appearance,  and  seldom  attains  an  alti- 
tude of  more  than  nine  or  ten  feet  at  the  highest 
point  from  the  water. 

The  spermaceti  varies  considerably  from  the 
right  whale,  the  principal  difference  being  in  the 
head.  The  mouth  is  destitute  of  the  plates  and 
fringes  of  the  latter,  and  the  lips,  instead  of  being 
attached  to  the  lower  jaw,  are  appended  to  the 
upper.  The  head  is  huge  and  ponderous,  compri- 
sing full  one-third  of  the  whole  fish,  and  so  clumsy 
that  it  seems  a  great  effort  to"  turn  it  round  in  the 


80         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MA>T. 

water.  The  under  jaw  is  comparatively  small,  of 
a  bony  structure,  and  appears  like  a  grayish  mar- 
ble shaft  or  pillar  appended  to  the  under  side  of 
the  head.  The  upper  margins  are  furnished  with 
two  rows  of  ivory  teeth,  standing  about  six  inches 
apart,  which  fit  into  corresponding  sockets  or  inden- 
tations in  the  upper  jaw.  It  becomes  quite  furious 
when  enraged;  and  in  fighting  a  boat,  it  ap- 
proaches its  enemy  perpendicularly  in  the  water, 
its  bulky  head  high  in  the  air,  and  its  shaft-like 
under  jaw  thrown  out  horizontally  on  the  surface 
of  the  water 

The  spermaceti  whale  feeds  on  various  animals 
of  the  mollusca  tribe,  all  of  which  are,  however, 
only  known  among  sailors  by  the  general  appella- 
tion of  "  squid."  They  are  usually  seen  floating 
on  the  surface  of  the  sea  in  large  flakes  resembling 
a  thick  white  jelly.  Though  inanimate  to  the  eye, 
they  are  not  entirely  destitute  of  life ;  and  some 
seamen  are  impressed  with  the  belief  that  when 
separated  in  body,  the  parts  possess  the  power  of 
again  uniting. 

The  blubber,  or  fat  of  the  spermaceti  whale,  is 
similar  to  that  of  the  common,  the  only  difference 
being  in  the  thickness.  In  the  latter,  it  varies 
from  ten  to  sixteen  inches  through,  while  in  the 
fattest  of  the  former,  it  seldom  exceeds  nine  inches. 
In  both  tne  tatty  substance  lies  immediately  ^be- 
neath the  skin,  from  which  it  can  only  be  separa- 
ted with  the  knife ;  "but  it  never  is  so  separated,  as 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         81 

the  skin  and  blubber  are  both  peeled  together  from 
the  body  of  the  fish  as  bark  is  peeled  from  the  trunk 
of  a  tree.  The  blubber  is  so  thoroughly  interwo- 
ven with  small  tough  fibres  that  it  will  even  resist 
the  beating  of  an  axe,  but  with  a  sharp  edged  tool 
it  is  as  easily  cut  as  a  pumpkin.  When  sliced  up 
the  pieces  slip  from  the  hands  like  chunks  of  ice, 
in  consequence  of  which,  the  handling  of  it  is 
usually  performed  with  sharp  hooks. 

A  whale-ship  would,  perhaps,  present  an  almost 
endless  variety  of  interesting  objects  to  the  eyes 
of  a  landsman ;  and  to  such  of  my  readers  as  wish 
to  gratify  a  laudable  curiosity,  I  shall  notice  a  few 
of  them.  The  first  important  object  in  the  equip- 
ment of  a  whaleship  for  a  successful  cruise,  is  the 
casks,  as  on  the  quality  of  these,  in  a  great  meas- 
ure, depends  the  safety  of  the  cargo.  These  are, 
in  consequence,  always  made  of  the  best  material, 
bound  with  iron,  and  of  such  dimensions  as  are 
best  adapted  to  the  hold  of  the  vessel.  They  are 
always  filled  with  fresh  water  when  outward  bound, 
and  if  oil  be  taken  faster  than  the  water  is  con- 
sumed, they  are  emptied  of  their  contents  and 
re-stowed  full  of  oil. 

The  second  important  matter  is  the  boats.  It  is 
necessary  that  these  should  be  extremely  light, 
sufficiently  large,  and  of  such  form  as  to  ride 
safely  on  the  most  tempestuous  sea.  Hence,  they 
are  built  of  the  lightest  cedar  boards,  not  exceed- 
ing half  an  inch  in  thickness,  and  lined  in  the 


82         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

bottom  with  still  lighter  material.  The  length 
rarely  exceeds  twenty-five  feet.  In  the  hind  end 
is  placed  a  post  called  a  loggerhead,  the  object  of 
which  is  to  secure  the  line  when  capturing  a  whale  ; 
and  at  the  bow  a  small  notch  is  cut  in  the  gunwale, 
through  which  the  line  is  rove  and  fastened  down 
with  a  small  peg.  This  precaution  is  highly  neces- 
sary, as  in  case  the  line  were  permitted  to  drag 
loosely  round  the  edge  of  the  boat  it  would  become 
entangled  with  the  oars,  and  even  with  the  limbs 
of  the  men,  to  the  great  danger  of  their  lives. 
There  is  no  rudder,  but  in  lieu  of  it,  a  rope  becket 
is  worked  in  the  stern-post  for  the  reception  of  an 
ash  steering  oar  some  twenty-two  feet  long,  with 
which,  a  single  stroke  is  mostly  sufficient  to  turn 
the  boat  clear  round  in  the  water.  A  space  is 
always  left  in  the  stern-sheets  for  the  reception  of 
the  tub.  Into  this  the  line  is  carefully  coiled,  a 
strong  cord  made  of  the  very  best  of'tarred  hemp, 
about  as  thick  as  a  man's  thumb,  and  measuring 
some  fourteen  hundred  feet  in  length. 

Next  comes  the  harpoon.  The  head  of  this 
instrument  is  triangular,  about  four  inches  broad 
across  the  barbs,  and  a  little  over  three-quarters 
of  an  inch  thick,  where  it  is  joined  to  the  shank. 
The  edges  are  ground  quite  sharp,  and  care  is  taken 
to  keep  them  clear  of  rust.  The  shank  Is  gener- 
ally near  two  feet  in  length  and  made  of  the  most 
malleable  iron,  in  order  to  avoid  the  danger  of 
breaking.  It  is  a  quarter  of  an  inch  square  and 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         83 

terminates  in  a  socket,  into  which  a  hand-pole  near 
four  feet  long,  is  firmly  fastened.  The  end  of  the 
line  is  spliced  tightly  round  the  socket  of  the  har- 
poon and  then  tied  at  two  or  three  points  along  the 
hand-pole.  From  thence  it  leads  back  between 
the  oarsman,  to  the  tub  in  the  stern-sheets,  the 
harpoon  always  having  its  place  in  the  bow  of  the 
boat.  When  the  iron  is  struck  into  a  whale,  the 
hand-pole  is  mostly  in  an  upright  position,  but  as 
the  fish  darts  away  and  a  strain  is  permitted  to 
rest  on  the  loggerhead,  the  pole  is  drawn  over  and 
the  shank  being  the  weakest  part  of  the  instru- 
ment bends  down  lengthwise  with  the  whale.  In 
this  position  it  would  be  next  to  impossible  for  the 
iron  to  draw  out,  unless  by  the  operation  of  sound- 
ing, in  which  case  the  shank  would  again  be 
straightened  up,  and  a  heavy  perpendicular  pull 
might  wrench  it  out. 

The  lance  claims  our  attention  next.  This  is  a 
thin  oval  blade  of  steel,  about  two  inches  broad 
and  three  in  length,  ground  as  sharp  as  a  razor  at 
all  edges  down  to  the  very  shank.  The  shank  is 
about  a  foot  longer  than  that  of  the  harpoon,  and  em- 
braces in  its  socket  a  light  ash  pole  near  twelve  feet 
in  length.  This  is  a  deadly  instrument  to  use  on 
the  body  of  a  fish,  and  cuts  its  way  both  in  and 
out.  In  approaching  a  whale,  the  boat-steerer 
always  pulls  the  bow  oar  of  the  boat,  until  the 
captain  or  the  mate,  in  whose  boat  he  is,  orders  him 
to  elect  his  oar  and  get  up.  He  then  rises,  picks 


84         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

up  his  harpoon  and  examines  the  line  to  see  that 
nothing  is  entangled  in  it.  As  soon  as  the  word, 
"Strike,"  is  given,  the  iron  is  thrown,  and  if  it 
fastens  he  quickly  runs  aft  to  the  stern  of  the  boat, 
and  takes  the  steering  oar  from  the  hands  of  the 
captain  or  mate,  as  the  case  may  he.  The  latter 
going  then  immediately  forward,  poises  on  high 
the  fatal  lance,  ready  to  do  mortal  combat  with 
the  great  monarch  of  the  ocean,  the  boat-steerer, 
in  the  meantime,  guiding  the  boat  according  to  his 
directions. 

Another  important  feature  on  board  a  whaleship 
is  the  "  Caboose,"  or  "  Try-works."  This  is  a 
piece  of  brick-work  erected  between  stanchions  on 
the  deck,  a  short  distance  abaft  the  fore  hatch. 
Three  kettles,  holding  a  little  over  a  barrel  each, 
are  placed  in  this,  over  as  many  furnaces,  while 
close  at  hand  is  secured  a  large  copper  tank,  into 
which  the  hot  oil  is  thrown  to  cool  before  it  is 
stowed  away  in  the  casks.  The  apparatus  for 
taking  the  blubber  from  the  body  of  the  whale  is 
somewhat  complicated,  and  may  perhaps  be  better 
understood  in  the  process  of  "  cutting-in.". 

When  a  whale  is  captured  it  is  towed  to  the  ship 
and  floats  alongside,  parallel  with  the  keel,  the  tail 
towards  the  bow,  and  the  head  near  the  main  chan- 
nels. A  "fluke"  chain  with  a  hawser  attached  to 
the  end  of  it,  is  then  run  out  at  the  hawse-hole 
and  fastened  round  the  small  of  the  fish's  tail.  A 
turn  is  then  taken  with  the  hawser  round  the  bita 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         35 

of  the  windlass.  The  fish  thus  secured  is  con- 
sidered ready  for  cutting-in.  A  man  with  a  rope 
round  his  waist,  next  ventures  over  the  ship's  side, 
on  the  body  of  the  whale  arid  passes  a  chain  round 
the  pectoral  fin,  close  up  to  the  body.  At  the 
head  of  the  mainmast  are  two  fourfold  tackles, 
hung  in  slings,  one  of  which  is  now  overhauled 
down  and  hooked  to  the  chain.  The  fall,  composed 
generally  of  a  six  inch  rope,  is  then  led  forward  to 
the  windlass.  As  soon  as  the  men  commence 
heaving  on  the  windlass  the  head  and  shoulders  of 
the  fish  rise  gradually  out  of  the  water.  When 
sufficiently  high,  the  men  are  ordered  to  stop 
heaving,  and  the  process  of  cutting  off  the  head 
begins.  This  is  accomplished  with  sharp  instru- 
ments resembling  small  spades,  with  long  handles, 
the  mates  using  them,  standing  the  while  in  the 
main  channels  of  the  ship.  When  the  spades 
have  worked  their  way  in  to  the  spinal  bone,  a  man 
is  again  sent  out  on  the  whale  with  an  axe,  to  sepa- 
rate it.  A  few  strokes  are  generally  sufficient  to 
complete  the  operation,  when  the  spades  are  again 
set  to  work  until  the  job  is  finished.  When  the 
head  is  entirely  off,  it  is  drifted  round  to  the  ship's 
stern  and  secured  by  a  line,  to  the  taffrail,  where 
it  is  left  to  tow  until  the  rest  of  the  body  is  dis- 
posed of. 

The  head  out  of  the  way,  an  incision  is  next 
made  in  the  body,  half  way  round  the  fin,  when  the 
heaving  at  the  windlass  is  resumed,  and  the  fin, 


86          FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

accompanied  with  a  large  portion  of  the  hlubber, 
slowly  peels  loose  from  the  body  of  the  whale.     A 
belt  of  blubber,  called  the  "  blanket-piece,"  is  now 
cut  from  the  body,  to  which  the  fin  becomes  the 
handle,  or  starting  point ;  and  as  the  humid  coat- 
ing peels  off  with  the  heaving  of  the  windlass,  the 
body  of  the  fish  turns  round  and  round  in  the 
water.     Care  is  taken  so  as  not  to  cut  directly 
round  the  body,  but  a  spiral  course  is  pursued,  so 
that  the  whole  of  the  blubber,  from  the  head  to  the 
tail,  is  taken  from  the  body  of  the  animal,  like  the 
thread  of  a  screw,  in  one  continued  piece.     When 
the  first  tackle  becomes  exhausted  by  the  length 
of  the  blanket  piece,  and  the  blocks  meet  at  the 
mast-head,  a  hole  is  cut  through  the  blanket  piece 
close   down   to  the  whale,  and  the  second  tackle 
hauled  down  and  hooked  on.     As  soon  as  a  mode- 
rate strain  is  had  on  the  second  tackle,  the  piece 
of  blubber  is  cut  off  level  with  the  deck  of  the 
ship,  and  swung  in  to  the  mainmast.     The  covers 
of    the   main   hatch    being   removed,    the   whole 
blanket  piece,  weighing  some  three  or  four  tons,  ia 
permitted   to   run   down   into  the   blubber  room. 
When  the  second  tackle  becomes  block  and  block, 
the  first  is  again  overhauled  and  hooked  on,  and  thus 
the  process    continues  to  be  repeated  until  they 
arrive  at  the  fish's  tail,  which  is  cut  clear  off,  and 
the  flukes,  chain  and  all,  are  then  hoisted  on  deck 
with  the  last  blanket  piece.     The  carcase  of  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         87 

whale  is  then  suffered  to  drift  at  large  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  ocean,  a  prey  to  sharks  and  gonies. 

The  body  being  thus  disposed  of,  the  head  is 
again  brought  round  to  the  main  channels,  and  the 
under  jaw  separated  from  the  upper.  The  tongue 
is  then  extracted  from  the  mouth  and  hoisted  on 
deck,  together  with  the  lips,  when  the  rest  being 
considered  worthless,  is  turned  abroad  upon  the 
waters.  The  top  part  of  the  head  is  then  hoisted 
in  on  deck  and  cut  up  ;  the  plates  of  baleen  are 
separated  with  axes,  and  after  being  cleansed  with 
scrapers,  at  the  gummy  ends,  are  lashed  up  in  bun- 
dles containing  ten  or  twelve  plates  each,  and 
stowed  away  in  the  vessel's  hold. 

As  a  sequel  to  the  cutting  in,  the  process  of 
boiling  or  trying  out  the  oil  commences.  The 
blubber,  for  necessary  convenience,  being  all  depo- 
sited in  the  blubber-room,  is  here  cut  up  in  pieces, 
from  twelve  to  sixteen  inches  long,  and  thrown  on 
deck.  Thence  it  is  carried  to  the  mincing  horse, 
where  it  is  minced  into  thin  slices,  and  thrown  into 
a  tub  ready  for  the  kettles.  As  it  boils  out,  the 
scraps,  which  become  brown  and  dry,  are  skimmed 
from  the  oil,  and  thrown  by  the  furnaces  for  fuel. 
The  scraps  derived  from  the  blubber  of  a  whale, 
usually  furnish  sufficient  fuel  to  boil  out  the  whole 
of  the  oil.  After  the  oil  has  been  cooled,  barrelled, 
and  stowed  away,  the  ashes  are  taken  from  the  fur- 
naces, and  being  placed  in  a  hogshead,  with  a  quan- 
tity of  fresh  water,  an  excellent  lye  is  the  result,  a 


88         FIVE  YEAHS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

commodity  extremely  useful  in  removing  the  grease 
and  filth  from  the  clothing  of  the  ship's  company. 
Thus  does  this  truly  valuable  animal  of  the  ocean, 
even  to  its  very  ashes,  contribute  to  the  happiness 
and  comfort  of  the  human  race. 

I  have  already  detailed  to  the  reader  some  par- 
ticulars in  respect  to  the  capture  of  the  whale ;  but 
as  a  full  account  of  the  whole  process  would  doubt- 
less prove  interesting  to  the  curious,  I  will  endeavor 
to  describe  it,  so  far  as  my  limited  powers  of 
description  will  permit. 

When  the  cry,  "  There  she  blows,"  resounds 
from  the  mast-head,  all  hands  are  at  once  called  on 
deck,  and  the  main-topsail  being  thrown  aback,  the 
ship  ceases  her  headway.  The  boats  are  now  low- 
ered into  the  water,  and  move  off  in  the  direction 
of  their  prey.  It  is  ruleable  that  some  one  of  the 
boats  should  precede  the  rest  to  the  attack,  as  a 
general  rush  of  all  might  alarm  the  fish  before  any 
of  them  would  be  within  reach  of  it.  The  boat 
selected  for  the  lead,  then  rows  off  quietly,  till 
within  about  fifty  yards  of  the  animal,  when  the 
men  spring  to  their  oars  with  all  their  might,  and 
rush  on  the  unconscious  whale  with  astonishing 
rapidity.  When  sufficiently  near  the  whale,  the 
boat-steerer  darts  his  iron  into  it,  and  then  in  a 
loud  voice  cries,  "  Stern  all !"  but  before  the  back- 
Btroke  can  be  given  by  the  rowers,  the  boat  is  in 
absolute  con'tact  with  the  whale. 

The  huge  animal,  frightened  at  such  an  unex- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         89 

pected  assault,  hurls  his  broad  flukes  high  in  the 
air,  and  striking  them  suddenly  down  on  the  water, 
with  a  report  louder  than  the  discharge  of  a  mus- 
ket, disappears  amid  a  sheet  of  bubbles  and  white 
foam.  The  whale  now  makes  the  best  of  its  way 
under  water,  while  the  line  whizzes  through  the 
notch  at  the  bow  of  the  boat  at  an  amazing  rate. 
Suddenly  the  whale  is  again  seen  at  the  surface  of 
the  water,  about  seventy  or  eighty  yards  ahead. 
The  men  are  now  ordered  to  peak  their  oars,  while 
at  the  same  time  a  turn  is  taken  with  the  line  round 
the  loggerhead,  when  the  boat  begins  to  move 
onward  after  the  whale.  The  mate  and  boatsteerer 
now  change  positions  in  the  boat,  the  former  going 
to  the  bow,  and  the  latter  to  the  stern ;  while  the 
men  at  the  same  time  pull  in  a  little  on  the  line,  in 
order  to  get  a  closer  position  to  the  whale.  The 
animal,  by  this  time,  finding  its  movements  much 
retarded  by  dragging  a  boat-load  of  men  after  it, 
becomes  uneasy,  and  by  rolling  and  plunging 
endeavors  to  rid  itself  of  the  iron  ;  but  in  its  efforts 
it  only  becomes  entangled  in  the  line,  and  thus 
renders  itself  the  more  securely  the  prisoner  of  its 
enemies. 

The  remaining  boats  now  arriving,  prepare  to 

fasten  with  another  iron,  which  they  frequently  do, 

.  and  the  fish  perceiving  itself  surrounded  on  all 

sides  by  greedy  combatants,  dives  suddenly  away 

towards  the  bottom  of  the  ocean.     This  action  of 

the  whale  is  called  "sounding."     A  steady  strain 

8* 


90         FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

is  kept  on  the  line  as  the  whale  descends,  though 
not  so  hard  as  to  draw  the  iron,  and  as  soon  as  the 
line  becomes  slack,  the  men  immediately  begin  pul- 
ling it  in,  so  that  when  the  whale  reappears  at  the 
surface  of  the  water,  they  are  as  near  to  it  as  when 
it  commenced  its  descent.  If,  as  is  often  the  case, 
the  whale  descends  to  such  a  depth  as  to  run  out  a 
whole  line,  a  second  line  is  tied  to  the  first,  which 
two  together  will  reach  a  depth  of  twenty-seven 
hundred  feet,  a  line  being  usually  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  fathoms  long.  A  whale,  however,  does 
not  sound  often,  as  the  density  of  the  water  in  the 
bed  of  the  ocean  renders  the  act  one  of  great 
exhaustion.  When  fresh  and  vigorous,  it  is  absent 
nearly  twenty  minutes,  and  sometimes  even  half  an 
hour,  but  when  worried  by  previous  running  it 
always  reappears  at  the  surface  in  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  from  the  time  of  its  descent.  When  it 
finds  itself  unable  to  get  clear  of  its  pursuers,  either 
by  running  or  sounding,  it  becomes  in  a  manner 
passive,  or  endeavors  to  free  itself  by  rolling,  in 
either  of  whick  cases  it  is  approached  and  dis- 
patched with  the  lance. 

The  most  effectual  place  to  insert  the  lance,  and 
which  all  experienced  whalemen  endeavor  to  select, 
is  in  the  side,  a  short  distance  behind  the  pectoral 
fin.  The  instrument  is  inserted  four  or  five  feet 
deep,  and  shoved  quickly  backward  and  forward, 
with  a  churning  motion,  taking  care  to  vary  the 
blade  a  little  up  and  down.  The  boat  is  then 


THE  WHALE  SOUNDING!. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         Jtt 

backed  off  to  note  the  effect.  In  a  moment  or  two 
he  will  blow,  and  if  the  wound  has  been  a  mortal 
one,  a  forked  stream  of  warm  blood  will  ascend 
from  his  nostrils,  high  into  the  air,  and  in  its 
descent,  bloody  both  the  boat  and  her  crew.  The 
attack  is  then  not  renewed,  as  the  animal  is  con- 
sidered killed ;  but  the  boat  hauls  off,  to  a  safe  dis- 
tance, to  await  the  flurry,  or  dying  struggle.  This 
commonly  takes  place  in  about  twenty  minutes,  when 
a  frightful  floundering  ensues,  during  which  the  sea 
is  lashed  into  a  foam  of  boiling  surf,  and  a  cloud 
of  spray  arises  from  the  agitated  water,  like  the 
mists  of  a  great  water-fall.  When  these  struggles 
finally  subside,  it  turns  over  and  expires,  after 
which  it  is  towed  to  the  ship  and  secured,  as  already 
described,  for  cutting  in. 

NOTE. — "  Case"  is  the  technical  name  of  a  large  cavity  in  the 
interior  of  the  skull,  filled  with  a  fine  oil  or  liquid,  which  is  taken 
from  the  head  in  a  warm  state,  and  becoming  concrete  on  cooling, 
furnishes  the  choice  sperm  of  commerce. 


In  which  the -writer  makes  further  progress  in  his  cruise,  and  dis- 
covers that  fortunes  are  not  more  rapidly  realized  at  sea  than  on 
land. 

THE  youthful  mind,  occupying  itself  in  some 
shady  nook  with  the  details  of  a  novel,  may  imag- 
ine to  itself  something  pleasing  and  romantic  in 
the  routine  of  ocean  life ;  and  indeed  it  must  be 
confessed,  that  before  I  went  to  sea,  I  had  pictured 
in  it  to  myself  a  vast  round  of  unknown  delights. 
Blue  water,  however  told  a  different  tale ;  and  as 
time  continued  to  progress,  I  found  myself  entirely 
cut  off  from  so  many  of  the  comforts  of  life,  that  I 
was  constrained  to  look  upon  a  sailor's  life  as  one 
of  hardship  and  privation.  Besides,  I  found  my 
life  in  such  continual  danger  that  I  never  knew 
when  I  was  safe ;  and  at  the  time  our  boat  was 
shattered,  and  I  committed  myself  for  safe  keeping 
to  the  arms  of  old  father  Neptune,  could  I  just  then 
have  got  my  foot  on  terra  firma,  I  would  have 
given  any  body  leave  to  have  sent  me  to  the  — 
"king  of  the  Cannibal  Islands,"  had  they  caught 
me  at  sea  again.  But  unfortunately,  we  were  more 
than  a  thousand  miles  from  the  nearest  point  of 
land;  and  not  being  sufficiently* expert  in  the  art 
(92) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THK  MAST.         93 

of  swimming,  to  overcome  so  great  a  distance,  there 
was  a  strong  probability  of  my  remaining  in  the 
ship  for  some  time. 

A  few  hours  after  reaching  the  ship  with  our 
shattered  boat,  the  first  and  second  mates  arrived 
on  board,  each  having  succeeded  in  capturing  a 
prize ;  and  the  ship  was  run  down  to  where  they 
lay.  During  the  afternoon,  the  captain  also  suc- 
ceeded in  taking  a  large  bull  whale,  and  the  three 
together,  furnished  us  a  day  of  hard  labor  to  cut 
them  in.  Before  the  blubber  of  these  was  entirely 
disposed  of,  another  capture  was  made,  and  yet 
another,  upon  which  we  began  to  congratulate  our- 
selves on  the  prospect  of  a  successful  voyage. 

But  though  all  things  appeared  thus  favorable 
for  a  profitable  voyage,  yet  I  began  to  be  very  much 
dissatisfied  with  my  situation.  I  had  left  Philadel- 
phia with  a  faint  prospect  of  making  a  fortune ;  but 
I  now  began  to  question  whether  I  had  hit  on  the 
best  plan.  I  was  already  enabled  to  perceive  that 
fortunes  were  not  to  be  more  easily  realized  at  sea, 
than  on  land,  and  that  even  the  few  dollars  per 
month,  which  were  earned  was  with  far  more  severe 
labor.  As  a  journeyman  shoemaker,  my  labors  in 
the  shop  were  usually  light ;  and  though  not  very 
well  contented  with  my  occupation,  yet  I  had 
always  something  palatable  to  eat,  and  was,  be- 
sides, master  of  my  own  time,  and  actions.  Such, 
however,  was  not  the  case  here.  I  was  kept  to  the 
most  constant,  and  severe  labor,  both  day  arid  night. 


94         FIVE  TEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

With  the  appearance  of  the  dawn  came  the  well 
known  cry,  "  There  she  blows,"  when  I  would  be 
called  to  the  boat,  in  which  a  row  of  some  two  or 
three  hours,  served  but  as  a  prelude  to  the  labors 
of  the  day.  If  not  successful  in  the  chase,  we  were 
obliged  to  retrace  our  journey  to  the  ship ;  during 
which  another  whale  would  perhaps  be  seen  two  or 
three  miles  off  in  another  direction,  upon  which  the 
course  of  the  boat  would  be  again  changed,  and  a 
rapid  row  of  two  hours,  would  put  us  nine  or  ten 
miles  from  the  ship.  Hunger  and  thirst  would 
soon  follow  in  the  track  of  such  labor,  and  it  often 
happened  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  boat  to 
satisfy  the  one,  or  to  slake  the  other.  '  A  row  of 
ten  or  twelve  miles  to  the  vessel,  was  then  to  be 
rewarded  with  a  biscuit  of  brown  bread  filled  to 
repletion  with  weevils,  a  chunk  of  cold  beef  resem- 
bling a  piece  of  lignumvitae,  and  a  cup  of  water 
sending  forth  an  effluvia  strong  enough  to  knock  a 
poor  exhausted  fellow  into  a  fit  of  hydrophobia. 
These  dispatched  for  a  supper,  I  had  then  to  take 
my  watch  at  the  try-kettles  till  twelve  o'clock  at 
night,  at  which  hour  the  relief  would  be  called ;  at 
one  I  would  get  housed  in  bed,  to  be  aroused  again 
at  four,  when  daylight  would  approach,  and  bring 
with  it  the  old  cry  of,  "  there  she  blows."  The 
boats  would  again  be  called  away,  and  on  taking 
my  seat  at  the  oar,  I  would  find  my  hands  in  a 
blister  from  the  previous  day's  pulling.  No  matter, 
"  On,  on !  boys  !"  was  shouted ;  and  away  we  would 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.          95 

go,  drag,  drag,  drag,  for  another  day  of  sweat  and 
toil.  Such  incessant  labor,  accompanied  with  loss 
of  sleep,  and  indifferent  food,  was  enough  to  wear 
down  both  the  spirits  and  body  of  the  most  buoyant 
and  muscular  man ;  and  when  was  added  to  these 
the  constant  hurrying  shouts,  threats  and  curses  of 
the  officers ;  the  grease,  filth,  storms,  upsetting  and 
stoving  of  boats,  as  well  as  other  daily  casualties 
and  disasters,  was  it  strange  that  I  should  have 
regarded  my  situation  as  intolerable  ?  Ah  reader  ! 
there  is  but  little  poetry  in  such  a  life !  If  you 
can  enjoy  yourself  and  be  happy,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, you  are  altogether  worthy  of  being 
ranked  among  whalemen.  But  if  you  think  you 
cannot,  do  not  go  to  sea — take  the  advice  of  one 
who  has  been  through  the  mill  and  stay  where  you 
are.  As  to  a  fortune,  think  nothing  about  it,  for 
you  will  never  make  one  by  going  to  sea  before  the 
mast  in  a  whaler ;  but  if  making  a  fortune  be  really 
your  wish,  go  to  selling  clams,  or  peddle  with  a 
pack  on  your  back,  or  with  a  classic  hand-organ  go 
to  grinding  music  at  half  a  dime  a  tune ;  by  patient 
industry  in  any  of  these  you  may  possibly  succeed, 
but  in  a  whaler  you  never  can.  Some  wag  of  a 
writer  has  represented  the  world  as  an  oyster,  and 
that  he  that  would  thrive  and  grow  fat  must  open  the 
shell  and  eat  at  his  leisure.  To  him  who  has  a 
golden  pick  and  a  silver  crowbar,  the  oyster  is  easily 
unquarried ;  but  to  the  poor  lean-pocketed  devil 
who  has  nothing  but  a  wooden  pen-knife  to  com- 


96         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

mence  his  labors  with,  it  is  quite  questionable 
whether  he  will  not  starve  before  he  can  make  an 
incision  large  enough  to  get  even  a  peep  at  the  con- 
tents within. 

An  uninterrupted  success  of  a  few  weeks  con- 
tinued to  crown  our  labors,  during  which  all  hands 
began  to  nourish  the  hope  of  filling  the  ship  with  a 
full  cargo  of  oil  in  a  very  short  season ;  but  as  time 
advanced,  our  luck  diminished  so  unexpectedly,  that 
on  the  approach  of  the  following  January  we  had 
barely  a  thousand  barrels  of  oil.  We  were  now 
well  assured  of  having  to  weather  out  a  twenty-two 
months'  cruise.  Whale  were  gradually  becoming 
more  scarce ;  and  those  few  which  yet  remained  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  "  ground,"  were  so  shy  that  it 
was  difficult  to  get  within  an  hundred  yards  of  them. 
The  season  was  also  near  its  close.  The  feed  which 
was  gathered  in  masses  across  the  sea,  began  to 
assume  a  grayish  cast ;  and  losing  its  nourishing 
properties,  with  the  departure  of  its  red  color,  the 
whale  abandoned  it,  and  sought  a  subsistence  in 
other  regions  of  the  sea.  There  was  no  use  in 
cruising  where  nothing  was  to  be  gained,  and  ac- 
cordingly, about  the  first  of  February,  we  closed 
our  labors  on  the  Southern  Banks  and  bore  away 
for  the  Falkland  Isles. 

It  was  during  our  journey  to  the  last  named 
islands,  and  while  lying- to  at  night,  that  I  became 
a  witness  to  an  amazing,  and,  to  me,  inexplicable 
phenomenon.  It  was  usual  on  board  the  ship  to 


FIVE  TEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         9T 

keep  one  or  two  men  on  the  lookout  during  the 
night ;  my  turn  came  at  two  bells  in  the  mid-watch. 
I  had  not  been  on  deck  over  half  an  hour,  when 
the  sea,  at  all  points,  began  to  assume  a  brilliant 
appearance.  My  first  impression  was,  that  some 
bright  meteor  might  be  trailing  its  tresses  through 
the  sky ;  but  on  casting  my  eye  upwards,  I  saw 
the  heavens  were  clear,  and  no  sign  of  any  shooting 
star  or  meteor  was  visible  in  the  horizon.  The 
wind,  which  at  first  moved  so  gently  as  scarcely  to 
stir  the  sails,  that  flapped  lazily  above,  freshened 
up  into  a  stiff  breeze,  raising  a  thousand  waves 
along  the  waters,  the  caps  of  which  changed  their 
sparkling  whiteness  to  a  bright  vermilion.  I  stood 
in  mute  s.stonishment  and  wonder,  watching  the 
progress  of  the  changing  colors,  until  at  last  the 
whole  scene,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  penetrate 
along  the  horizon,  presented  an  ocean  of  rolling 
and  burning  lava.  The  wind  still  increasing,  the 
caps  of  the  waves  shot  up  into  the  air  like  flames 
of  fire,  while  the  myriads  of  particles  of  spray 
that  darted  from  them,  shone  with  a  splendor  equal 
to  the  sparks  of  a  fiery  furnace.  The  sails  and 
rigging  of  the  ship  were  lighted  up  alow  and  aloft, 
while  the  skies  above,  eclipsed  by  the  glittering 
brilliancy  of  the  nether  element,  appeared  robed 
in  a  mantle  of  darkness.  I  could  stand  it  no 
longer,  but  hurried  into  the  cabin  to  call  the  cap- 
tain ;  for  I  thought  that,  like  the  ancient  Ulysses, 
we  had  sailed  into  the  regions  of  hell,  and  was 


98         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

anxious  to  ascertain  if  the  captain  was  aware  of 
our  locality.  The  captain  hastened  on  deck  with- 
out dressing,  and  remained  a  few  minutes  enjoying 
the  scene ;  and  then  laughing  heartily  at  my 
frightened  looks,  returned  below.  I  have  often 
since  beheld  these  phosphorescent  appearances  of 
the  sea,  but  I  do  not  recollect  of  ever  having 
witnessed  another  of  such  extreme  magnificence 
and  grandeur,  as  that  which  I  saw  on  our  journey 
to  the  Falkland  Isles. 

Early  in  March  we  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Falklands.  We  made  the  coast  of  one  of  the 
middle  isles ;  and  one  or  two  cases  of  scurvy 
having  occurred  on  board,  the  captain  thought  it 
advisable  to  get  something  fresh  from  the  land 
for  the  relief  of  the  invalids.  To  this  end  the 
first  and  second  mates,  with  four  men  and  two 
muskets,  were  sent  on  shore  to  hunt  some  fresh 
game,  and  Mark  Leighton  and  myself  obtained 
permission  to  join  this  company.  No  one  can 
imagine  with  what  strange  feelings  of  delight  I 
once  more  trod  on  the  face  of  mother  earth.  I 
had  not  even  seen  land  since  we  left  the  Western 
Isles,  a  period  of  nearly  seven  months,  so  that  the 
very  touch  of  even  a  barren  soil,  rendered  me  as 
nimble  as  a  grasshopper.  I  jumped,  hopped,  and 
skipped  about,  like  a  lost  dog  that  has  suddenly 
found  his  master,  and  kicked  Mark  Leighton  two 
or  three  times  in  my  paroxysms  of  joy,  before  he 
would  cut  up  as  many  capers  as  I  did. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.          99 

After  rambling  about  a  mile  from  the  sea,  we  di- 
vided into  parties  of  two  and  two ;  and  as  the  mates 
appeared  determined  to  monopolize  the  muskets, 
the  rest  of  the  party  were  obliged  to  content  them- 
selves with  clubs.  Leighton  and  I  soon  fell  in 
with  a  flock  of  wild  geese,  and  I  expressed  my 
regret  at  the  absence  of  the  muskets ;  when  Mark, 
observing  that  there  were  other  ways  of  catching 
geese,  let  fly  his  club  among  the  flock,  killing  one 
outright  and  wounding  another.  I  immediately 
pursued  the  wounded  one,  and  soon  succeeded  in 
securing  it.  These  geese  appeared  remarkably 
tame,  and  when  assailed  with  clubs  or  guns,  would 
rise  on  the  wing  a  short  distance  into  the  air,  and 
circling  round  a  few  times,  would  alight  again  upon 
the  ground  within  shooting  distance.  In  the  course 
of  a  two  hours'  ramble,  my  friend  and  I  killed  as 
many  geese  as  we  could  carry,  upon  which  we 
made  the  best  of  our  way  back  to  the  boat,  where 
we  were  soon  greeted  with  the  appearance  of  the 
rest  of  our  party,  who  also  returned  loaded  with 
the  same  game.  We  then  returned  to  the  ship, 
where  for  a  week  it  was  goose  pie,  roast  goose, 
goose  stewed,  goose  boiled,  and  indeed  the  whole 
ship's  company  began  to  assimilate  to  the  carniva- 
rians  on  which  they  fed. 

We  now  stood  away  to  the  eastward,  along  the 
coast  of  the  Isles  in  search  of  whales,  of  which 
we  saw  several ;  but  on  our  approach  they  invari- 
ably swam  for  the  kelp  which  grows  along  the  shores, 


100        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

and  in  which  pursuit  was  impossible.  A  few  days 
of  fruitless  toil,  satisfied  the  captain  of  the  folly  of 
fishing  along  those  barren  shores,  upon  which  he 
directed  his  course  towards  South  Georgia.  Two 
days  sailing,  however,  during  which  we  encountered 
a  cold  storm  from  the  south,  convinced  him  that 
the  season  was  too  far  advanced  for  whaling  in  *Q 
high  a  latitude,  and  once  more  changing  the  direc- 
tion of  the  vessel  towards  the  Falklands,  we  soon 
afterwards  cast  anchor  in  a  small  bay,  near  the 
mouth  of  Berkley  Sound. 

The  second  day  after  anchoring  at  the  mouth  of 
the  sound,  the  captain  concluded  to  pay  a  visit  to 
the  governer  of  the  Islands,  who  was  a  British 
naval  officer.  We  started  immediately  after  break- 
fast, on  a  beautiful  morning,  and  after  rowing  some 
ten  miles  up  the  sound,  came  in  front  of  a  low 
stone  edifice,  in  which  the  governor  held  his  court, 
and  which  was  also  the  only  habitation  on  the 
island.  His  household,  comprising  the  whole  popu- 
lation of  the  country,  consisted  of  two  Spanish 
women,  an  old  negress,  two  male  servants,  and 
two  Buenos  Ayrean  Spaniards,  the  latter  being 
kept  on  the  island  for  the  purpose  of  catching 
wild  cattle.  The  captain  purchased  of  the  gover- 
nor two  bullocks  at  a  cent  a  pound,  which,  with 
the  aid  of  the  two  Spaniards,  we  killed  and  dressed 
in  the  afternoon,  and  permitting  the  governor  to 
retain  the  hides  we  conveyed  the  beef  to  our  boat, 
and  in  the  evening  returned  with  it  to  the  ship. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        101 

For  a  week,  during  which  we  watered  our  ship 
and  repaired  our  sails,  we  continued  at  anchor  in  the 
bay.  As  the  crew  were  not  limited  in  their  move- 
ments to  a  very  strict  discipline,  I  had  frequent 
opportunities  of  exercising  my  legs  by  a  walk  on 
land.  I  made  one  or  two  exploring  expeditions  to 
different  points  of  the  island,  but  fell  in  with  few 
objects  of  interest  other  than  wild  geese  and  pen- 
guins. The  geese  on  the  island  were,  however, 
shy,  and  it  required  something  more  than  a  club 
to  capture  them.  The-  penguins,  on  the  contrary, 
were  so  tame  that  in  walking  over  their  rookeries, 
I  was  obliged  to  kick  them  from  under  my  feet. 
My  friend  Mark,  who  sometimes  shared  my  ram- 
bles, often  amused  himself  by  kicking  them  down 
the  rocky  precipices  some  hundred  feet  into  the 
sea.  They  tumbled  from  rock  to  rock  in  their 
descent,  in  such  a  manner  that  one  would  have 
imagined  the  flesh  all  knocked  from  their  bones, 
and  yet,  when  they  finally  bounced  into  the  water, 
they  would  flutter  their  fin-like  wings  and  jabber 
to  each  other  as  if  highly  delighted  with  the  fun. 
On  our  return  to  the  ship  we  usually  filled  our 
pockets  with  eggs,  which  when  cooked,  furnished 
us  an  agreeable  feast.  I  saw  a  large  number  of 
horses  grazing  in  herds  on  various  parts  of  the 
island,  but  they  were  very  wild,  always  snorting 
and  running  before  I  had  approached  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  them.  The  herbage  here  for 
horses  and  cattle,  remains  good  throughout  the 
9* 


102       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

year ;  and  I  found  growing  in  the  grass  in  many 
places,  a  luscious  looking  strawberry  as  large  as  a 
common  walnut.  They  were  rich  and  juicy  to  the 
taste,  but  of  a  less  delicious  flavor  than  those  of 
our  own  country.  The  general  appearance  of  the 
islands,  where  I  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
them,  is  not  very  inviting.  The  land  is  mostly 
broken  and  uneven,  frequently  running  up  into 
abrupt  peaks  and  straggling  ledges  and  ridges, 
the  tops  of  which  are  rough,  barren,  and  stony — 
no  trees  grow  there  to  decorate  the  landscape,  or 
to  cast  their  welcome  shade  over  the  weary  wan- 
derer ;  but  on  the  contrary,  the  whole  islands  are 
so  utterly  destitute  of  shrubbery,  that  in  my  vari- 
ous rambles,  I  never  saw  a  bush  or  twig  as  large 
as  a  common  dwarf  elder. 

About  the  latter  end  of  March,  we  took  our 
departure  from  the  Falkland  Isles  and  bent  our 
course  in  the  direction  of  Patagonia.  It  was  the 
intention  of  the  captain  to  proceed  to  some  point 
on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  where  we  might  procure  a 
new  supply  of  wood  and  water  for  the  next  season. 
But  the  season  being  yet  many  months  in  advance, 
there  was  no  necessity  for  hurrying  thither,  and 
in  consequence,  the  vessel  was  kept  bearing  on  and 
off  along  the  coast  of  Patagonia  and  Monte  Video, 
with  the  prospect  of  falling  in  with  spermaceti 
whale.  In  this  voyage  nearly  three  months  were 
consumed ;  but  we  were  also  enriched  by  the  addi- 
tional capture  of  three  spermaceti  whales,  which 


FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        103 

increased  our  cargo  of  oil  to  nearly  twelve  hun- 
dred barrels,  the  larger  portion  of  which  was  now 
spermaceti.  On  the  25th  of  June,  1838,  we  cast 
anchor  in  a  beautiful  bay  on  the  coast  of  Brazil. 

Hha  Crrande,  or  as  it  is  styled  by  geographers, 
the  Island  of  St.  Sebastian,  stretches  some  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  miles  along  the  coast  of  Brazil,  about 
forty-five  miles  south-west  from  Rio  Janeiro.  It 
is  a  narrow  island  and  quite  moutainous.  The 
shores  on  the  side  next  the  main  land,  are  indented 
with  small  bays,  the  margins  of  which  present  a 
beautiful  appearance,  being  thickly  studded  with 
small  white  cottages,  orange  groves,  and  cocoanut 
trees.  The  island  is  mostly  in  possession  of  coffee 
planters,  who  not  enclosing  their  plantations  with 
fences,  but  permitting  them  to  lie  together  in  com- 
mon along  the  sides  of  the  hills,  give  the  whole 
landscape  the  outline  of  an  extensive  wood ;  while 
the  beautiful  dwellings,  situated  along  the  beach, 
lead  the  eye  of  the  spectator  to  imagine  them 
placed  on  the  boundaries  of  a  vast  wilderness. 

On  landing  in  one  of  these  sylvan  bays,  we 
were  surprised  to  find  the  inhabitants  fleeing  from 
us  in  all  directions,  and  so  fearful  that  it  was  diffi- 
cult to  get  into  communication,  with  them.  The 
captain,  unable  to  account  for  this  species  of  con- 
duct on  any  known  principles,  ventured  to  inquire 
the  cause  of  it  from  some  slaves  whom  we  found 
at  work  in  a  coffee  yard.  We  were  told  that  two 
whaleships  had  landed  there  the  previous  year,  the 


104       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

crews  of  which  behaved  so  rudely  to  the  gentle 
senhoras,  that  they  were  all  obliged  to  hide  them- 
selves to  avoid  being  insulted  by  the  nasty  Ameri- 
canos. On  hearing  this,  the  captain  assured  them 
that  they  need  have  no  uneasiness  in  the  present 
instance  as  his  ship  did  not  contain  such  a  ruffian 
crew  ;  and  pointing  out  to  the  men  the  impropriety 
of  such  conduct,  cautioned  us  strongly  against 
committing  like  indecencies^  The  whole  crew  en- 
deavored strictly  to  follow  out  the  advice  of  the 
captain,  and  the  result  was  that  before  a  week  had 
elapsed,  many  of  us  were  on  a  footing  of  intimacy 
with  several  families  of  the  island. 

Mark  Leighton  and  myself,  determining  to  push 
our  adventures  to  some  important  result  among  the 
coffee  planters  of  Hha  Grrande,  were  from  the 
beginning,  as  affable  and  polite  as  our  ignorance 
of  the  language,  and  other  circumstances  would 
permit.  Mark,  being  able  to  speak  a  little  Por- 
tuguese, possessed  a  trifling  advantage  over  me ; 
but  then  I  could  play  the  flute,  and  this  accom- 
plishment secured  me  a  cheerful  welcome  wherever 
I  went.  As  to  discoursing,  that  as  a  general 
thing,  was  out  of  the  question  ;  for  though  my 
friend  knew  enough  of  the  language  to  ask  for  an 
orange,  a  cup  of  coffee,  water,  or  the  like,  yet  he 
was  unable  to  hold  a  conversation ;  and  when  at 
times  he  did  attempt  it,  I  mostly  stood  by  like  a 
deaf  man  at  a  political  meeting,  watching  all  the 
motions,  but  understanding  nothing  that  was  said. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST,        105 

Having  succeeded  in  ingratiating  ourselves  into  the 
good  graces  of  a  worthy  family  named  Joaquim, 
we  felt  seriously  the  want  of  an  interpreter,  and  to 
remedy  this  defect,  we  resolved  to  associate  with 
us  in  our  walks  thither,  our  Portuguese  shipmate, 
John  Antonio.  John  was  delighted  to  join  in  with 
us,  and  as  he  spoke  the  language  fluently,  we  now 
considered  ourselves  a  match  for  any  adventure 
the  island  might  present. 

I  could  perhaps  consume  a  whole  chapter  in 
recording  the  several  incidents  that  took  place  dur- 
ing our  stay  at  this  island  ;  hut  as  it  would  be  only 
wasting  time  and  paper,  to  the  exclusion  of  more 
important  matter,  I  will  dispatch  the  whole  suhject 
by  briefly  stating,  that  after  three  weeks  cf  daily 
visits  on  shore,  my  bosom  friend,  Mark  Leighton, 
acquired  such  a  love  for  old  Senhor  Joaquim's  coifee 
plantation,  or  for  some  object  connected  with  it, 
that  he  resolved  to  run  away  from  the  ship ;  a  reso- 
lution to  be  set  down,  perhaps,  as  one  of  the  import- 
ant results  of  our  island  adventures.  I  objected 
at  first  with  all  my  might,  but  soon  found  that  it 
was  of  no  use.  He  swore  he  would  go,  and  when- 
ever he  swore  he  would  do  a  thing,  he  was  very  apt 
to  perform  it.  Much  as  I  regret  to  say  it,  his  pro- 
ject was  put  in  execution  the  evening  before  the 
ship  sailed,  for  he  suddenly  disappeared  and  was 
nowhere  to  be  found.  On  the  following  morning, 
and  while  the  vessel  was  preparing  to  get  under 
way,  the  captain  sent  for  me,  and  interrogated  me 


106       FIVE  YEABS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

in  regard  to  his  desertion.  He  was  pleased  to 
observe,  that  as  I  was  doubtless  acquainted  with 
Mark's  previous  intentions,  it  was  my  duty  to  have 
informed  my  superiors  of  them,  that  they  might 
have  prevented  him  from  leaving  the  ship.  I 
replied,  in  substance,  that  such  I  could  easily  have 
done,  but  in  that  case  I  would  have  forfeited  the 
esteem  of  Mark,  who  would  also  have  become  my 
most  inveterate  enemy,  and  might  have  exerted 
such  an  influence  on  board,  as  to  render  me  obnox- 
ious to  the  whole  ship's  company.  The  captain 
said  that  the  approbation  of  my  commander,  was 
preferable  to  the  good  will  of  a  shipmate.  I 
answered,  that  duty  and  obedience  at  all  times 
merited  the  approbation  of  a  commander,  and  that 
in  neither  of  thesfe  had  I  been  negligent,  but  that 
no  commander  could  justly  despise  a  sailor  for 
neglecting  to  betray  the  secrets  of  a  friend,  although 
his  silence,  as  in  the  present  case,  might  cause  the 
ship  the  loss  of  an  able  hand.  The  captain  ended' 
the  interview  by  going  on  deck,  and  I  returned  to 
the  forecastle.  After  breakfast  a  few  sacks  of 
oranges  were  taken  on  board,  when  the  anchor  was 
weighed,  and  the  old  Hudson,  again  spreading  her 
bleached  wings  to  the  breeze,  stood  out  to  sea. 

The  night  following  our  departure  from  Hha 
Grande,  I  dreamed  of  poor  Mark  Leighton.  It 
must  be  acknowledged  that  my  feelings  had  become 
warmly  attached  to  him,  and  I  knew  now  of  no  one 
in  the  ship"  whom  I  could  really  call  my  friend 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       107 

except  old  black  Sam.  I  felt  quite  sorry  to  think 
that  the  various  plans  of  adventure  which  had  been 
formed  between  us,  and  which  had  been  canvassed 
and  re-canvassed  over  during  a  year's  intimacy, 
should  all  be  brought  to  naught  by  a  brief  visit  to  the 
coast  of  Brazil.  My  reflections  also  recurred  back 
to  Sag  Harbor,  and  to  the  gentle  maiden  whose 
thoughts  were^perhaps,  at  that  very  moment  dwel- 
ling on  the  ship  Hudson,  and  fondly  singling  Mark 
Leighton  out  from  among  all  her  crew  ;  but  she 
was  yet  to  learn,  poor  girl,  that  that  last  tearful 
word,  "remember"  uttered  with  a  tremulous  voice 
and  convulsed  heart,  had  so  soon  been  forgotten 
by  him  who  had  so  lately  treasured  it  up  as  a  talis- 
man to  his  heart.  Alas !  what  a  melancholy 
reward  for  two  years  of  faithful  love,  to  be  told 
that  he  for  whom  the  aching  mind  had  sighed  and 
wept,  had  made  his  home  in  a  distant  land !  and 
yet  so  it  was ;  and  thus  ended  that  intended  cam- 
paign through  the  world,  in  which  Mark  Leighton 
was  going  to  play  so  conspicuous  a  part. 


In  which  the  Adventurer,  without  being  Shipwrecked,  finds  himself 
unexpectedly  cast  away  upon  a  foreign  land. 

ON  the  second  day  after  our  departure  from 
Ilha  Grande,  the  old  Hudson  breasted  her  way 
nobly  up  into  the  harbor  of  Rio  Janeiro.  I  was 
surprised  to  find  so  large  a  quantity  of  shipping 
here,  and  more  especially  to  perceive  that  the 
most  imposing  portion  of  it  was  composed  of  vessels 
of  war.  The  harbor  is  large  and  commodious, 
extending  near  an  hundred  miles  in  circumference, 
and  indented  along  the  shores  with  beautiful  min- 
iature bays,  the  margins  of  which  are  ornamented 
with  elegant  villas,  choice  shrubbery,  and  creeping 
vines.  The  scenery  around  the  bay  is  delightful 
and  picturesque  in  the  extreme.  The  hills  and 
mountains  shooting  up  into  volcanic  peak's,  and 
rising,  range  behind  range,  in  nearly  all  directions, 
form  a  landscape,  which,  in  grandeur  and  magni- 
ficence, is  scarcely  surpassed  in  any  portion  of  the 
world.  The  city  stands  on  the  south  side  of  the 
bay ;  and  as  it  extends  over  several  hills  and  undu- 
lations, the  eye  of  the  stranger  is  not  wearied  with 
that  uniformity  of  streets  and  houses,  so  frequently 
(108) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        109 

complained  of  by  travellers  in  the  cities  of  our  own 
country. 

It  was  Saturday  when  we  cast  anchor  at  Rio ; 
and  on  Sunday  the  captain,  with  a  portion  of  the 
crew,  attended  divine  service  on  board  the  United 
States  ship  Independence,  that  vessel  being  then 
the  flag  ship  of  the  American  Squadron  on  the  coast 
of  Brazil.  I  felt  quite  lost  in  traversing  the  decks 
of  this  noble  frigate.  Every  thing  about  her  ap- 
peared, to  my  eye,  in  the  most  perfect  condition 
possible.  The  guns,  mess-chests,  boats  and  sailors, 
were  all  as  neat  and  cleanly  in  appearance  as  the 
most  rigid  discipline  could  make  them.  I  heard 
but  little  of  what  the  chaplain  said,  as  I  was  too 
busy  staring,  with  open  mouth  and  eyes,  at  the 
various  objects  I  saw  around  me.  Once  or  twice  I 
undertook  to  count  the  number  of  the  crew,  but 
after  reaching  a  little  over  three  hundred  I  gave  it 
up.  On  returning  from  the  Independence,  my 
eyes  rested  with  displeasure  on  the  Hudson,  which 
now  bore  the  appearance  of  an  old  launch,  and 
everything  about  her  seemed  to  partake  of  the  same 
character.  Throughout  the  remainder  of  the  day 
I  watched  the  boats  passing  and  repassing  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  vessels  of  war,  and  I  could  not  re- 
frain from  drawing  a  line  of  comparison  between 
the  jolly  easy  kind  of  life  these  men-o'-war's-men 
were  leading,  and  that  which  we  whalemen  were 
doomed  to  undergo. 

The  object  of  the  captain  in  putting  into  this  har- 
10 


110        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

bor  was  a  two-fold  one.  We  were  nearly  out  of 
bread,  and  some  of  the  crew  were  in  need  of  neces- 
sary clothing  to  continue  the  cruise.  It  was  re- 
solved among  the  officers  to  dispose  of  a  portion  of 
the  cargo  in  exchange  for  these  commodities,  and 
on  Monday  morning  the  captain  proceeded  on  shore 
for  this  purpose ;  but  the  place  being  so  hampered 
up  with  absurd  harbor  regulations,  it  became  impos- 
sible for  us  to  land  our  oil  under  four  or  five  days. 
During  this  period  an  occurrence  took  place  on 
board  the  ship  which  eventually  had  a  remarkable 
influence  on  my  fortunes. 

A  negro  of  our  crew,  named  Bill  Peterson,  had, 
during  the  absence  of  the  captain  on  shore,  in  some 
way  offended  the  mate,  who  struck  him  with  a  stick 
of  wood.  This  raised  the  resentment  of  Peterson, 
•who,  instead  of  obeying  the  further  orders  of  the 
mate,  stalked  away  into  the  forecastle  to  brood 
over  his  wrongs.  On  the  appearance  of  the  cap- 
tain on  board,  the  mate  gave  his  report  of  the  pro- 
ceedings, and  the  next  morning  Peterson  was  called 
aft  on  the  quarter-deck  to  render  an  account  of  his 
conduct.  Peterson's  version  of  the  story  conflicting 
with  that  of  the  mate,  the  latter  called  him  a  "  liar" 
Some  of  the  men  now  attempted  to  interfere  in  be- 
half of  Peterson,  who  certainly  had  made  a  correct 
report  of  the  matter,  but  the  captain  ordered  them 
to  be  silent;  and  after  reprimanding  them  for  pre- 
suming to  contradict  the  report  of  an  officer,  ordered 
Peterson  to  stand  up  to  the  main  rigging  where  he 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        Ill 

inflicted  thirteen  blows  on  his  back  with  a  rope'a 
end.  When  the  punishment  was  over  he  turned  to 
the  crew  and  told  them  that  such  would  be  the  re- 
ward of  any  man  who  dared  to  disobey  the  orders 
of  an  officer  in  his  ship. 

"  Mr.  Denison,"  said  he,  turning  to  the  mate 
and  handing  him  the  rope's-end,  "  I  give  you  this, 
and  whenever  you  find  one  of  the  crew  stubborn,  or 
disobedient,  use  it  as  I  have  done  just  now  !" 

Denison  took  the  rope  and  threw  it  by  the  bin- 
nacle, after  which  he,  and  the  rest  of  the  officers, 
proceeded  to  breakfast  in  the  cabin. 

Mutiny,  and  its  consequences,  were  often  themes 
of  discourse  among  the  men  in  the  forecastle,  and 
it  had  often  been  a  matter  of  query  and  speculation 
among  them,  how  our  captain  would  act  in  case  a 
crew  were  to  rebel  against  his  authority.  Some 
were  of  opinion  that  he  was  a  man  not  to  be  trifled 
with ;  and  others,  among  whom  was  the  second 
mate,  thought  so  highly  of  his  firmness  and  decision 
of  character,  that  they  were  firmly  persuaded  none 
but  the  most  turbulent,  and  fool-hardy  subordinate, 
would  ever  have  the  courage  to  disobey  an  order 
from  Captain  Green.  His  will,  they  said,  was 
supreme,  and  absolute  on  board,  and  have  it  he 
would,  regardless  of  consequences.  With  them 
there  could  then  be  no  such  thing,  on  the  part  of 
Captain  Green,  as  the  rescinding  of  an  order,  when 
once  given. 

Such  in  the  forecastle  being  the  opinions  of  the 


112        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

crew,  in  respect  to  the  captain,  it  is  scarcely  to  be 
wondered  at  that  they  should  have  remained  silent 
when  forbidden  to  speak.  Yet  though  his  boasted 
firmness  was  sufficient  to  prevent  any  immediate 
tumult,  to  the  discerning  eye,  it  was  evident  enough, 
that  the  lowering  looks,  and  calm  demeanor,  of  the 
larger  portion  of  the  crew,  denoted  the  approach 
of  a  storm  that  was  to  end  in  the  destruction  of  the 
rope's-end  power  entrusted  to  the  mate,  or  in  the  de- 
struction of  a  portion,  at  least,  of  the  crew..  The 
captain  himself,  doubtless  perceiving  that  matters 
were  tending  to  a  somewhat  serious  crisis,  and  per- 
haps not  desiring  to  have  his  firmness  put  to  the  test, 
commenced  being  very  civil  and  pleasant,  but  the 
men,  though  silent  and  obedient,  were  not  so  dull  as 
not  to  comprehend  his  meaning. 

On  the  second  day  after  Peterson  was  flogged, 
the  captain  obtained  a  "permit"  from  the  Custom 
House  to  land  his  oil ;  and  in  the  evening,  when 
returning  from  the  shore,  gave  us,  in  the  boat,  an 
order  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness,  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  to  hoist  an  hundred  barrels  of  oil 
into  the  lighter.  On  arriving  on  board  the  ship  we 
found  the  men  at  supper  in  the  forecastle,  and  can- 
vassing the  subject  of  flogging,  which  had  been  the 
principal  theme  of  their  discourse  ever  since  the 
ir,ate  had  been  clothed  with  rope's-end  authority. 
Old  black  Sam  was  strenuous  for  overhauling  the 
captain  on  the  subject,  but  the  chief  difficulty  ap- 
peared to  be  the  adoption  of  a  plan  to  make  him 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       118 

hear  us>  Sam  proposed  that  we  should  all  refuse 
duty  at  once,  which  would  compel  him  to  hear  our 
complaints,  or  to  procure  aid  from  a  vessel  of  war 
to  put  us  in  irons  for  mutiny.  I  then  informed  Sam 
of  the  .captain's  orders,  in  respect  to  hoisting  the 
oil  out  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  ob- 
served, that  if  to  strike  was  their  intention,  a  more 
favorable  opportunity  would  perhaps  not  present 
itself.  The  whole  crew  caught  greedily  at  the  idea  ; 
and  at  nine  o'clock,  when  we  went  to  our  bunks,  it 
was  resolutely  agreed  among  all  hands,  not  to  hoist 
out  a  single  gallon  of  oil  until  the  captain  would 
promise  to  rescind  the  flogging  instructions  to  the 
mate.  The  next  question  was,  who  should  commu- 
nicate our  determination  to  the  captain,  at  six  bells 
in  the  morning.  All  had,  however,  heard  so  much 
said  of  his  firmness,  and  decision  of  character,  that 
they  were  afraid  of  incurring  his  displeasure,  and 
consequently  no  one  appeared  desirous  of  volunteer- 
ing his  services  as  a  diplomatist.  Old  Sam  at  last 
pitched  upon  me,  but  I  declined,  in  consequence  of 
being  only  a  landsman  in  the  ship.  This  excuse, 
would,  however,  not  be  hearkened  to  by  the  men, 
and  after  some  urging,  I  finally  consented.  The 
forecastle  then  became  quiet,  but  it  is  questionable 
whether  many  eyes  of  the  crew  were  that  night 
closed  in  sleep. 

The  next  morning  at  three  o'clock,  the  mate 
struck  the  bell  with  his  own  hand,  and  though  we 
all  heard  the  loud  call  of  his  voice,  yet  no  one 
10" 


114        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

appeared  disposed  to  obey  it.  We  all  lay  quietly 
in  our  bunks,  listening  to  the  tread  of  the  mate 
as  he  paced  back  and  forth  on  deck.  Presently 
another  shout  was  raised  in  a  more  decisive  tone, 
upon  which  Old  Sam  suggested  that  now  was  my 
time.  I  slid  from  my  bunk,  and  dressing  hastily, 
clambered  up  on  deck. 

"  Well,"  said  the  mate,  holding  a  lantern  to  my 
face  to  discover  my  features,  "  there's  one  made 

his  appearance  at  last,  and  a  d d  land  lubber 

at  that.  What's  the  matter  with  you  fellows  down 
below,  that  you  can't  get  on  deck  any  more  when 
you're  called  ?  Hello,  here  !"  added  he,  stamping 
on  the  forecastle  and  shouting  more  furiously  than 
ever.  "  Are  you  all  dead  or  drunk  down  here,  or 
what  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  you  ?" 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  "  the  men  have  determined  not 
to  come  on  deck?" 

"What's  that  ?"  said  the  mate,  quickly,  as  if  desi- 
rous to  weigh  the  full  meaning  of  my  expression. 

"The  men  refuse  further  duty,"  answered  I, 
*'  until  they  have  an  interview  with  the  captain." 

"  What  the  devil  does,  that  mean  ?"  asked  the 
mate. 

"  It  means,"  replied  I,  "that  as  the  captain  has 
instructed  you  to  flog  any  of  the  ship's  company 
whenever  you  please,  they  will  not  hoist  out  the 
oil  until  he  rescinds  that  order." 

"  Whew  !"  whistled  the  mate,  with  an  exhalation 
that  almost  demolished  the  lantern.  "  Is  that  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        115 

way  the  wind  blows  !  Rescind  ?  Yes,  by  thunder ! 
I'd  call  it  rescind !  He'll  rescind  some  of  the 
backs  of  you  infernal  rascals  for  mutiny,  that's 
what  he'll  do,  and  you'll  soon  find  it  out  too." 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  invectives,  Mr.  Deni- 
son  gathered  up  his  lantern  and  with  a  string  of 
oaths  that  reached  to  the  mainmast,  proceeded  to 
the  cabin  to  enlighten  his  superior  on  the  condi- 
tion of  things  forward,  while  I,  in  the  meantime, 
returned  to  the  forecastle,  where  I  found  all  my 
companions,  except  Old  Sam,  in  a  paroxysm  of 
the  fidgets.  In  a  few  moments  our  suspense  was 
terminated  by  the  arrival  of  an  order  from  the 
captain,  to  make  our  appearance  at  the  mainmast. 
The  crisis  had  now  approached,  and  we  all  walked 
aft.  A  lantern  stood  on  the  fife-rail  of  the  main- 
mast, one  side  of  which  was  occupied  by  the  cap- 
tain, and  the  other  by  the  mate.  The  latter  looked 
daggers  at  us  as  we  gathered  on  deck,  and  once  he 
attempted  to  speak,  but  was  restrained  by  the  cap- 
tain. The  third  mate,  boatsteerers,  and  steward, 
stood  around  the  capstan,  quietly  watching  the 
proceedings.  A  tackle  had  been  strapped  to  the 
mainstay  by  one  of  the  boat  steerers,  and  hooked 
to  a  cask  of  oil;  and  the  fall  being  now  led  out  on 
the  quarter  deck,  the  captain  pointed  to  it,  and 
addressed  himself  to  the  men. 

"  Now,  my  lads,"  said  he,  "  I  am  in  a  hurry  to 
get  this  oil  into  the  lighter.  There  is  the  fall  ; 
clap  to  it  cheerily,  and  hoist  it  out  immediately !" 


116       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

The  captain  spoke  firmly,  but  not  in  anger,  and 
the  mate  gritted  his  teeth,  and  clinched  his  fists, 
but  no  one  moved. 

"  Will  you  do  it,  or  will  you  not  ?"  said  the  cap- 
tain, perceiving  that  all  hesitated. 

"  We  will  not  do  it,  Captain  Green  !"  said  Old 
Sam  Malony,  stalking  boldly  forward  from  among 
the  crowd. 

The  mate  grasped  a  handspike  and  menaced  the 
old  negro,  but  on  meeting  a  negative  look  from  his 
commander,  threw  it  down. 

"  There  is  no  occasion  for  that,  Mr.  Denison. 
There  are  other  ways  of  settling  this  business, 
than  by  handspikes,"  said  the  captain,  addres- 
sing himself  to  the  mate ;  and  turning  to  the  men 
added,  "  I  now  give  you  five  minutes  to  put  your 
hands  to  that  tackle  fall  and  hoist  out  this  oil,  or 
to  go  forward  to  the  forecastle." 

At  these  words,  one  of  the  Portuguese,  becoming 
alarmed,  slipped  round  the  main  hatch  and  took 
hold  of  the  tackle  fall.  The  action,  however,  only 
elicited  the  indignation  of  all  his  shipmates,  who, 
not  waiting  for  the  limited  time  to  expire,  wheeled 
away  at  once  and  marched  forward  to  the  forecas- 
tle. On  perceiving  this,  the  Portuguese  let  go  the 
fall  and  followed. 

Whether  it  was  that  Captain  Green  was  wholly 
unprepared  to  meet  so  strong  an  opposition  on  the 
part  of  his  crew,  or  whether  he  hoped  to  learn 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        117 

something  more  satisfactory  respecting  the  origin 
of  their  disobedience,  I  am  unable  to  say,  but  it  is 
certain  that  he  called  a  council  of  war  among  his 
officers,  for  the  discussing  of  some  plan  to  over- 
come the  difficulty.  What  were  the  schemes  pro- 
posed by  the  different  members  of  this  memorable 
junto,  never  transpired  among  the  crew.  All  we 
can  say  is  that  after  half  an  hour's  interim,  we 
were  again  ordered  to  make  our  appearance  on  the 
quarter  deck.  At  the  capstan  we  were  met  by 
our  commander,  who  now  dropped  the  imperative 
mood  for  the  indicative  and  conjunctive,  and  desi- 
red us  to  relate  all  our  grievances  with  all  reason- 
able latitude,  and  without  fear  or  favor  to  any  one. 
Old  Sam  now  became  our  spokesman,  and  gave  a 
full  detail  of  Mr.  Denison's  behavior  from  the  time 
we  first  appeared  off  the  Falkland  isles,  down  to 
the  flogging  of  Bill  Peterson.  His  general  con- 
duct had  indeed  been  such  as  rendered  him  an 
object  of  particular  dislike  to  nearly  every  man  in 
the  ship  ;  so  that  the  transfer  of  absolute  power  in 
the  unlimited  exercise  of  the  rope's  end,  was  a 
direct  insult  to  every  man's  feelings,  of  such 
magnitude  as  it  was  impossible  to  brook.  Sam 
pointed  all  out  in  its  most  glowing  colors,  and 
finally  declared  that  unless  the  order  was  re- 
scinded, and  some  further  restraint  put  upon  the 
actions  of  Mr.  Denison,  he  might  get  a  crew 
from  shore  to  hoist  out  his  oil,  as  we  were  fully 
resolved  never  to  do  it  on  any  other  condition. 


118        FIVE  YEARS  BEFOKE  THE  MAST. 

When  the  old  black  sailor  had  concluded,  the 
captain  paused  for  sometime,  as  if  undecided  what 
reply  to  make. 

"Mr.  Denison,"  observed  he,  at  last,  turning  to 
the  mate,  "  what  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?  Can 
it  be  possible  that  I  have  been  asleep  for  four 
months?  Are  these  reports  indeed  to  be  credited?" 

The  mate  made  no  reply,  but  stood,  looking 
unconsciously  down  the  ship's  side  into  the  lighter, 
which  was  awaiting  the  reception  of  the  oil. 

"  Well,  men,"  proceeded  the  Captain,  again  turn- 
ing to  us,  "  All  that  is  past  and  gone  cannot  now 
be  remedied  ;  but  I  feel  no  hesitation  in  saying  that 
hereafter  I  will  endeavor  to  guard  against  like 
occurrences.  Till  this  morning  I  have  been  entirely 
in  the  dark  respecting  the  differences  between  you 
and  Mr.  Denison,  and  had  I  been  apprised  of  them 
before  I  flogged  Peterson,  no  rope's  end  should 
have  crossed  his  back.  As  to  the  order  you  wish 
me  to  rescind,  I  will  do  it  cheerfully,  and  I  promise 
you,  that  hereafter,  no  man  of  you  shall  be  flogged 
while  you  remain  under  my  command.  This  is  the 
first  time  in  seventeen  years  that  I  have  had  a  crew 
to  refuse  duty." 

"  That's  'cause  you  never  had  Mr.  Denison  for 
mate  afore,"  observed  Sam. 

"  It  may  be  so,  Malony,"  answered  the  captain ; 
"  but  we  must  harbor  no  resentment  for  the  past. 
To  forget  and  forgive  is  a  good  motto  to  follow. 
I  shall  use  you  all  as  well  as  I  can,  at  all  times, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        119 

and  more  than  that  you  can  scarcely  expect.  And 
now  let  me  see  you  turn  to,  my  lads,  and  hoist  out 
the  oil." 

As  we  had  now  received  all  the  satisfaction  that 
could  be  expected  under  the  circumstances,  we, 
with  one  accord,  proceeded  directly  to  our  duty. 
The  fall  was  manned,  the  song  rose  cheerily  on  the 
morning  air,  and  everything  began  to  drive  on 
among  the  crew  as  if  nothing  had  occurred.  Not 
so,  however,  with  the  mate ;  he  had  sunk  into  a 
dogged  silence,  and  sat  by  the  mizzen  mast,  with 
his  head  leaning  against  the  helm.  What  his  feel- 
ings were,  it  is  impossible  to  say,  but  the  general 
one  which  inspired  the  men,  was  that  of  triumph. 
We  felt  that  for  once  the  roaring  lion  had  been 
conquered. 

After  breakfast  I  went  with  the  lighter  on  shore, 
where  I  remained  during  the  day,  and  on  my  re- 
turn to  the  ship  at  night,  I  was  told  that  Mr. 
Denison  accused  me  of  being  the  chief  instigator 
of  the  preceding  disturbances,  and  that  he  had 
sworn,  in  the  presence  of  one  of  the  boatsteerers, 
to  have  his  revenge  as  soon  as  he  should  once  more 
get  me  on  blue  water.  This  intelligence,  it  must 
be  owned,  made  me  feel  a  little  uneasy.  It  was 
evident  that  he  had  entirely  forfeited  the  confi- 
dence of  the  captain  ;  and  smarting  under  vexation, 
there  was  no  knowing  to  what  act  of  desperation 
his  revengeful  feelings  might  not  urge  him.  The 
more  I  reflected  on  it,  the  more  I  resolved  to  disap- 


120       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

point  his  vengeance,  and  before  the  morning  arrived 
I  had  secretly  determined  to  leave  the  ship. 

The  oil  having  been  disposed  of,  and  our  stores 
got  on  board,  it  was  the  intention  of  the  captain 
to  sail  in  two  or  three  days.  It  was  therefore 
necessary,  that  if  I  intended  to  do  anything  to 
effect  my  escape,  I  must  do  it  quickly.  Fully 
bent  on  making  the  attempt,  I  sought  the  captain, 
and  endeavored  to  procure  twenty  dollars  from 
him,  to  buy  some  clothing,  which  I  represented 
myself  as  being  much  in  need  of.  He  refused  the 
twenty,  but  offered  me  fifteen,  provided  that  I 
would  sign  a  receipt  for  twenty.  I  accepted  the 
proviso,  as  well  as  the  cash,  and  proceeded  on  shore 
the  same  day,  in  the  second  mate's  boat.  Old 
Sam  also  obtained  leave  of  absence  and  went 
with  me  on  shore.  The  day  was  partly  spent  in 
company  with  each  other ;  and  in  the  afternoon 
my  black  companion  expressed  some  surprise  that 
I  had  yet  made  no  move  towards  the  purchase  of 
my  clothing.  I  then  revealed  to  him  my  intentions. 
He  said  that  he  could  not  blame  me  much  for 
leaving,  but  at  the  same  time  regretted  to  part 
company  with  one  he  esteemed  as  a  good  shipmate. 
In  the  evening  we  parted,  with  many  assurances 
of  remembrance,  and  the  hope  of  a  future  friendly 
meeting.  But,  ah  me  !  how  little  know  we  of  life. 
Fifteen  years  have  never  brought  across  my  devious 
path  one  single  glimpse  of  the  jolly  countenance  of 
of  the  sable  old  sailor. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        121 

The  first  night  on  shore,  I  passed  in  the  city ; 
but  on  the  following  day  I  became  apprehensive 
that  search  would  be  made  for  me,  and  to  avoid 
the  chance  of  being  discovered,  I  crossed  over  the 
bay,  to  PrayaJi  Grande,  in  which  little  village  I 
took  up  my  residence  at  an  English  boarding  house. 
Here  I  remained  incognito  for  a  period  of  four 
days,  at  the  end  of  which  I  saw  the  old  Hudson 
once  more  setting  her  shoulder  to  the  breeze  and 
standing  seaward.  Before  she  had  made  the  offing 
beyond  fort  Santa  Cruz,  I  was  recrossing  in  the 
ferry  boat  to  the  great  city  of  San  Sebattiano. 

4    11 


The  jour.  Shoemaker,  having  abandoned  the  sea,  establishes 
himself  in  the  capital  of  Brazil. 

THE  reader  will  perceive  that  I  was  now  cast 
upon  my  own  resources  in  a  foreign  land,  destitute 
in  a  manner  of  money  and  clothing,  unable  to 
speak  the  language,  without  employment,  and  with- 
out friends  of  whose  aid  I  could  avail  myself  in 
my  need.  Under  these  circumstances,  not  the 
most  flattering  indeed,  I  was  now  to  commence  my 
career  afresh.  I  had  left  home,  as  already  observed, 
with  the  prospect  of  realizing  some  little  wealth, 
and  after  little  more  than  a  year,  spent  in  laborious 
adventure,  I  found  myself  now  in  possession  of 
bare  ten  dollars.  It  is  true  that  I  had  an  interest 
in  the  Hudson  to  the  amount  of  an  hundred  and 
forty-five  dollars,  but  that  was  now  forfeited.  Yet 
it  was  no  great  loss  either,  for  I  was  indebted  one 
hundred  dollars  for  my  outfit,  to  which  sum  was  to 
be  added  upwards  of  seven  dollars  interest,  and 
the  twenty  dollars  receipted  for  to  Captain  Green, 
making  in  all,  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  dollars. 
My  real  loss  then,  according  to  the  estimate,  was 
only  eighteen  dollars.  It  must,  however  be  noted, 
(122) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        123 

that  my  chest  of  goods  on  board  the  ship  was  sacri- 
ficed, as  well  as  a  good  suit  of  clothing  left  at  Sag 
Harbor.  On  the  whole,  I  perceived  that  my  finan- 
cial affairs  were  evidently  on  the  decline,  and  I 
began  to  doubt  whether  my  sea  adventures  were 
likely  to  be  attended  with  better  success  than  those 
of  the  land.  But  the  step,  being  taken,  could  not 
be  retraced,  and  I  was  too  much  of  a  philosopher 
to  fret  about  trifles. 

The  first  question  with  me  was,  what  should  I 
do  for  a  livelihood  ?  I  was  as  yet  but  an  indiffer- 
ent sailor ;  and  besides  there  were  but  few  Ameri- 
can merchant  vessels  in  port,  and  those  few  were 
none  of  them  in  want  of  hands.  The  shoemaking 
business  appeared  to  offer  some  chances  of  employ- 
ment to  a  journeyman,  but  I  had  no  tools.  I  could 
however  think  of  nothing  else,  in  which  I  could 
hope  to  make  a  living,  and,  regardless  of  tools, 
began  to  search  around  for  employment.  Work  was 
soon  obtained  from  a  firm,  named  Bridges  &  Payler, 
who  kept  a  large  shoe  establishment  in  the  Rue  de 
Ovidor.  These  men  kept  in  their  employ  some 
five  or  six  journeymen,  and  from  ten  to  twelve 
slaves.  Mr.  Bridges  was  originally  a  Bostonian,  a 
relative  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  Webster's,  and  had 
emigrated  to  Brazil  about  the  year  1818.  He  had 
accumulated  a  handsome  property.  He  was-  a  lib- 
eral, kind-hearted,  benevolent  man,  and  during  tho 
five  months  spent  in  his  employ  treated  me  with 
every  mark  of  kindness. 


124        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

In  a  country  possessing  a  delightful  climate,  a 
busy  population,  and  an  endless  variety  of  delicate 
and  delicious  fruits,  it  might  be  deemed  supposa- 
ble  that  one  could  make  himself  quite  comfortable  ; 
but  it  was  invariably  my  misfortune  to  be  afflicted 
with  annoyances.  If  nature  had  blessed  the  land 
with  an  everlasting  summer,  it  had  also  cursed  it 
with  interminable  hordes  of  fleas,  which  rendered 
my  nights  so  uncomfortable  as  to  be  an  absolute 
punishment  to  me.  Mr.  Bridges,  commiserating 
my  sufferings,  at  last  offered  me  lodgings  at  his  pri- 
vate residence,  which  was  situated  about  a  mile 
from  the  city,  in  a  beautiful  little  place  called  De 
Grloria.  Here  I  had  a  cot  slung  from  the  ceiling 
in  the  centre  of  my  bedroom,  and  puzzled  the  fleas, 
when  getting  into  it,  by  undressing  on  a  chair. 
There  was,  working  in  the  same  shop  with  me,  an 
Englishman  named  Wilson,  who  also,  for  a  while, 
experienced  much  vexation  from  these  troublesome 
vermin ;  but  he  eventually  hit  on  a  plan  by  which 
his  nightly  troubles  were,  in  some  measure,  neu- 
tralized. Being  of  a  convivial  temperament,  as 
well  as  a  lover  of  the  wine  cup,  he  proposed  that 
we  should  send  out  nightly  for  a  couple  of  bottles 
of  wine,  over  which  we  might  drink  success  to  the 
Empire  of  Fleas,  with  which  title  he  had  dubbed 
the  territories  of  Don  Pedro  Segundo.  To  this 
arrangement  I  consented,  and  on  the  appearance 
of  the  vine  we  usually  commenced  singing  songs, 
and  continued  without  intermission  until  the  whole 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       125 

was  consumed.  He  mostly  indulged  in  English 
compositions,  and  I  in  American — it  was  John  Bull 
against  Brother  Jonathan.  When  the  wine  was 
exhausted,  two-thirds  of  which  usually  fell  to  hia 
share,  Wilson  would  retire  to  his  bed  about  three 
sheets  in  the  wind,  when  he  slept,  ^s  he  said,  so 
soundly  that  the  flees  could  not  wake  him  up.  Mr. 
Bridges,  feeling  himself  agreeably  amused  at  our 
singing,  often  passed  the  evening  with  us,  and 
sometimes  added  a  third  bottle,  by  way  of  contin- 
uing the  entertainment. 

Wilson 'had  formerly  resided  in  Buenos  Ayres, 
;n  which  city  he  had  a  house  of  His  own,  and  where 
he  had  also  been  married  to  a  beautiful  English 
woman,  brought  to  that  country  by  a  British  officer. 
After  his  marriage,  he  went  to  keeping  a  public 
house,  and  for  a  year  or  two  did  a  respectable  busi- 
ness, but  his  wife  falling  in  love  with  a  Scotch 
adventurer  who  boarded  in  the  establishment,  eloped 
with  him,  and  came  to  Rio,  to  which  place  the  run- 
away pair  were  soon  afterwards  followed  by  Wil- 
son. A  brief  search  around  the  city,  placed  the 
wife  again  in  the  power  of  her  husband,  who  brought 
her  to  reside  at  Mr.  Bridges'  house  until  a  vessel 
should  depart  for  the  "  Rio  de  La  Plata."  Here 
she  was  closely  watched  by  her  husband.  But  in 
spite  of  his  vigilance  she  managed  to  get  out  of  the 
house  at  the  end  of  two  weeks,  and  again  decamped 
with  her  paramour.  For  a  full  week  after  her  dis- 
appearance Wilson  was  almost  distracted  at  her 
11* 


126        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

loss,  and  ran  wildly  about  the  city  inquiring  after 
her,  searching  every  private  nook  with  the  vehe- 
mence of  a  madman.  Disheartened  and  fatigued 
with  his  search,  he  at  last  became  reconciled  to 
his  misfortune,  and  having  exhausted  his  ready 
funds,  in  pursuit  of  his  faithless  better  half,  he  was 
obliged  to  go  to  work  on  the  bench  for  money  to 
defray  his  expenses  back  to  Buenos  Ayres. 

In  my  daily  walks  I  had  frequent  opportunities 
of  familiarizing  myself  with  the  different  streets 
and  buildings  of  the  city,  and  of  acquiring  some 
little  knowledge  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the 
inhabitants.  The  city  covers  an  extensive  area  of  . 
land,  but  in  consequence  of  being  interrupted  by 
hills,  it  is  irregularly  built,  and  the  houses  lack  that 
uniform  and  compact  appearance  which  so  fre- 
quently characterizes  cities  of  the  northern  portion 
of  the  continent.  In  some  parts  the  dwellings  form 
a  respectable  appearance  ;  but  in  general  they  are 
low  and  inelegant.  Along  a  large  proportion  of 
the  streets  they  compose  but  one  story,  the  front 
sides  decorated  with  double  doors,  usually  opening 
one-half  above  the  other.  The  streets  are  narrow, 
short,  frequently  crooked,  and  not  very  well  paved. 
Along  the  most  fashionable  thoroughfares,  the 
shops  of  the  citizens  make  a  tasteful  display  of 
their  wares,  many  of  the  windows  exhibiting  a  skill 
and  taste  in  the  mechanical  and  fine  arts,  that 
justly  rivals  any  thing  of  a  like  kind  in  the  cities 
of  the  North.  The  churches  are  numerous,  and 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       127 

many  of  them,  from  their  architectural  style,  form 
a  very  imposing  appearance.  The  wall  and  altars 
of  the  interior  are  gorgeously  decorated ;  and  the 
floors,  painted  in  cement,  or  elegantly  laid  in  rich 
mosaic,  form  almost  a  museum  of  fantastical  figures 
to  the  eye  of  a  Yankee  mechanic.  On  the  north- 
ern side  of  the  city,  and  fronting  the  bay,  is  the 
palace  of  the  emperors.  It  is  a  huge  square  pile, 
not  very  high,  and  displays  no  remarkable  talent 
in  point  of  architecture.  It  is  always  surrounded 
with  a  body  of  armed  police,  which  impresses  the 
mind  of  a  stranger  with  the  idea  of  a  military  gar- 
rison rather  than  with  that  of  a  palace.  In  the 
southern  portion  of  the  city  is  a  large  public  square 
or  common,  known  as  the  Camp  de  St.  Anna. 
The  senate  hall,  a  very  magnificent  structure,  forma 
the  chief  feature  of  attraction  in  this  portion  of 
the  metropolis.  Public  parades  and  public  execu- 
tions, also,  at  times,  give  an  additional  interest  to 
this  common.  The  aqueduct  by  which  the  city  is 
watered,  and  which  has  been  constructed  at  an 
immense  amount  of  labor  and  expense,  is  doubtless 
the  most  extraordinary  structure  in  the  vicinity  of 
Rio.  It  begins  at  a  torrent,  bursting  from  the  side 
of  a  mountain  near  the  sea,  and  after  winding,  for 

7  O 7 

a  distance  of  five  miles,  in  a  serpentine  course,  along 
tne  ridges  of  the  hills,  finally  terminates  in  a  vast 
reservoir,  situated  on  a  high  eminence  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  city.  Between  the  site  of  the  basin 
the  neighboring  hills,  it  passes,  for  near  half  a 


128       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

mile,  over  the  tops  of  the  houses  on  arches,  an 
hundred  feet  high.  The  whole  masonry  is  con- 
structed of  blue  freestone,  beautifully  hewn,  and 
forms  an  admirable  appearance.  At  the  lower  end 
of  the  Rue  de  Miserecordia  (street  of  Mercy)  stands 
the  public  hospital,  a  noble  edifice,  the  northern 
wing  of  which  flanks  boldly  out  into  the  waters  of 
the  bay.  Circumscribed  between  this  and  the 
southern  projection  of  Castle  Hill,  are  the  build- 
ings and  grounds  of  the  foundling  hospital,  an  insti- 
tution deserving  some  particular  attention  in  con- 
sequence of  the  part  which  it  performs  in  the 
economy  of  Brazilian  society. 

In  the  main  avenue  of  the  city,  a  short  distance 
wes/.  from  the  public  hospital,  stands  an  elegant 
looking  stone  building  in  a  somewhat  isolated  posi- 
tion. There  is  nothing  very  remarkable  in  its 
external  appearance,  other  than  that  the  front  is 
destitute  of  windows,  with  the  exception  of  one, 
and  in  this  is  fixed  a  hollow  cylinder,  some  two  feet 
or  more  in  diameter,  so  as  to  be  easily  turned  with 
the  hand.  When  an  illegitimate  child  is  born,  the 
mother  of  which  is  desirous  of  hiding  her  shame 
from  public  scrutiny,  the  little  creature  is  carried 
to  this  house  by  some  friend  or  servant  of  the 
mother,  and  placed  in  the  cylinder.  In  a  short 
time  the  cries  of  the  new  and  tender  visitor  will 
arrest  the  attention  of  the  abbess,  who  is  always 
in  attendance,  and  who  now  takes  it  from  its  hollow 
residence  and  examines  it  very  closely.  If  a  name, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        129 

written  instructions,  or  any  valuable  jewel,  accom- 
pany the  child,  it  is  carefully  noted  down  in  a  book, 
together  with  the  date  of  its  appearance,  after 
which  it  is  clothed,  fed,  and  prepared  for  its  future 
instruction. 

The  government  now  becomes  the  guardian  of 
the  infant.  If  a  boy,  he  is  placed  at  a  military  or 
naval  school,  as  soon  as  his  age  will  permit,  and 
grows  up  a  sailor  or  a  soldier  ;  and  if  a  girl,  she  is 
sent  to  the  female  department  of  the  hospital,  a 
species  of  nunnery,  in  which  she  is  instructed  in 
household  duties,  and  taught  the  most  useful 
branches  of  learning,  as  well  as  the  higher  accom- 
plishments of  music,  drawing,  painting,  &c. 

When  a  female  infant  has  once  become  an  inmate 
of  this  institution,  there  is  no  prospect  of  her  ever 
being  released,  except  in  being  reclaimed  by  her 
parents,  or  in  getting  married.  The  former  is, 
unfortunately,  of  very  rare  occurrence,  and  they 
are  so  entirely  cut  off  from  worldly  intercourse,  by 
lofty  walls  and  grated  windows,  that  the  latter 
becomes  a  hope  equally  faint,  and  with  many  even 
more  distant.  They  do,  however,  by  talking  through 
iron-barred  windows,  and  by  looks,  songs,  and  other 
attractions,  arrest  the  attention  of  young  men 
from  without,  when  an  epistolary  correspondence 
is  originated,  in  which  the  billets  of  the  lovers  are 
exchanged  by  means  of  silken  cords,  let  down  from 
the  loops  and  windows  above.  In  this  manner 
alliances  of  marriage  are  formed  between  these 


180        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

unfortunate  maidens  of  the  inner,  and  sympathizing 
young  men  of  the  outer  world.  Four  days  in  the 
year  are  set  apart  as  nuptial  days,  on  which  all  im- 
patient lovers  are  permitted  to  claim  their  mistresses 
and  release  them  from  their  secluded  abode.  But 
to  marry  a  girl  out  of  this  institution,  requires  two 
necessary  qualifications.  The  applicant  must,  in 
the  first  place,  be  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  and  as  the  government  awards  the  found- 
ling a  marriage  portion  of  some  five  hundred  mill- 
reis,  he  is  compelled,  in  the  second  place,  to  give 
bonds  in  a  like  amount  of  money  to  guarantee  the 
wife's  protection  and  maintenance. 

It  appears  to  be  the  settled  conviction  of  many 
persons  that  institutions  of  this  kind  are  but  little 
conducive  to  the  morals  of  society.  It  is  contended 
that  the  most  stringent  laws  of  even  our  own  colder 
regions  are  found  inefficient  in  restraining  the  evils 
of  bastardy ;  and  that  in  a  country  where  both  the 
climate  and  the  temperament  of  the  inhabitants 
induce  to  sexual  commerce,  an  institution  of  this 
kind  offers  a  premium  to  licentiousness.  But  with 
all  due  deference  to  these  opinions,  my  experience 
leads  me  to  differ  from  them.  If  the  whole  number 
of  illegitimate  children,  born  in  any  one  of  our 
own  cities  of  like  extent  with  Rio,  could  annually 
bo  estimated,  it  would  perhaps  be  found  to  equal, 
if  not  to  exceed  that  of  the  latter  place  ;  and  when, 
moreover,  is  to  be  thrown  in  the  balance  the  crime 
of  infanticide,  a  thing  of  rare  occurrence  in  Rio, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        131 

the  question  of  morals  will  incline  against  our  side 
of  the  isthmus.  The  argument  that  such  institu- 
tions are  a  drain  upon  the  treasury  of  the  govern- 
ment, is  no  objection  at  all,  as  all  treasuries  are 
yearly  replenished  by  taxation  of  the  people  ;  and 
who  is  not  conscious  of  the  large  amount  of  money 
annually  stripped  from  our  communities  in  the 
shape  of  taxes  for  the  support  of  illegitimate 
children  in  our  alms-houses,  and  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  convict  mothers  in  our  numerous  state 
prisons,  who  have  rendered  themselves  criminal 
in  the  destruction  of  their  own  offspring.  But 
aside  from  the  question  of  morality,  I  am  still 
persuaded  that  this  hospital  system  possesses  some 
advantages  over  our  own,  inasmuch  as  it  enables 
many  a  frail  and  erring  mother  to  maintain  her 
standing  in  the  social  circle,  from  which  she  is  too 
often  shamed  into  degradation  and  infamy  among 
us  ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  furnishes  a  safe 
asylum  to  the  tender  infant,  and  as  it  grows  up 
instructs  it  in  various  branches  of  learning,  and 
thus  enables  it  to  discharge  the  common  duties  of 
life  when  arrived  at  maturity,  a  thing  fatally  over- 
looked in  our  own  country,  in  the  rearing  of  chil- 
dren of  similar  origin. 

It  sometimes  occurs  that  females  confined  in  this 
unsocial  residence,  fall  heirs  to  handsome  fortunes. 
I  was  informed  of  an  instance  where  a  young  me- 
chanic married  a  girl  out  of  the  hospital,  who 
received  for  her  marriage  portion  a  sum  of  fifteen 


132        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

thousand  millreis.  About  four  years  after  her 
marriage,  the  lady  took  sick  and  died.  The 
•widower  subsequently  tried  his  luck  by  marrying 
again  out  of  the  same  institution,  and  his  second 
wife  fell  heir  to  an  estate  valued  at  twenty  thousand 
millreis.  At  the  time  I  was  in  Rio,  he  was  con- 
sidered a  wealthy  man,  and  lived  like  an  eastern 
nabob. 

The  population. of  the  city  of  Rio  may  be  esti- 
mated at  something  over  two  hundred  thousand 
inhabitants,  the  most  important  body  of  which  is 
composed  of  Brazilians  and  Portuguese.  There  is 
a  respectable  sprinkling  of  Spanish  and  French, 
some  Germans,  and  a  few  English  and  Americans. 
The  latter,  however,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
mercantile  houses,  are  mostly  adventurers.  The 
slaves  compose  by  far  the  greater  bulk  of  the  popu- 
lation, outnumbering  all  the  whites  at  a  ratio  of 
about  three  to  two.  The  streets  are  literally  alive 
with  them ;  they  are  frequently  seen  trotting  along 
the  streets  in  droves,  loaded  with  sacks  of  coffee, 
rice,  salt,  cotton,  &c.,  which  they  invariably  carry 
on  their  heads.  They  are  meanly  clad,  the  only 
covering  of  the  males  being  a  kind  of  coarse  short 
trowsers,  reaching  from  the  waist  to  the  thigh  ; 
and  numbers  may  at  any  time  be  seen  prowling 
about  the  wharves  of  the  city,  without  any  other 
covering  than  that  afforded  by  a  handkerchief 
pinned  about  the  body,  and  hanging  like  an  apron 
down  before.  The  clothing  of  the  female  is,  how- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        133 

ever,  less  exceptionable  in  the  city,  though  in  the 
country  it  is  chiefly  limited  to  the  short  hempen  or 
cotton  petticoat,  extending  from  the  hip  to  the 
knee.  Some  occasionally  show  a  disposition  to 
modesty,  by  hanging  a  cotton  napkin  about  the 
neck,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  conceal  the  bosom. 

The  treatment  of  slaves  is,  perhaps,  in  no  coun- 
try -where  the  system  of  slavery  exists,  such  as  a 
philanthropic  man  could  wish  to  see  imposed  ;  but 
it  is  more  than  probable  that  it  is  marked  with  a 
greater  excess  of  inhumanity  in  Brazil  than  in  any 
other  country  throughout  Christendom.  Kindness 
and  liberality  are  virtues  scarcely  known  in  the 
vocabulary  or  feelings  of  a  Portuguese  slaveholder  ; 
while  avarice,  usurping  in  his  heart  the  place  of 
humanity,  leads  him  to  grind  down  his  slave  to  the 
last  extremity  of  life.  Hence  the  treatment  of  the 
slave  may  be  set  down  as  no  treatment  at  all.  He 
is  compelled  to  work  the  whole  of  the  time  for  his 
master,  and  keep  himself  out  of  the  extra.  As  to 
his  food,  it  is  perhaps  of  a  sufficiently  wholesome 
character,  but  too  often  deficient  in  quantity,  and 
seldom  well  prepared ;  while,  in  addition  to  running 
naked,  he  is  usually  obliged  to  pass  his  nights, 
during  the  rainy  as  well  as  the  dry  season,  under 
the  dewy  heavens,  without  a  bed  ;  or  if  in  the  city, 
he  may  avail  himself  of  a  shelter  in  his  master's 
entry  or  shed,  or  may  even  find  a  more  classic 
lodging  under  the  portico  of  a  gorgeous  church. 
Alas !  what  a  commentary  on  that  gospel  which 
12 


134        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

says,  "  Do  unto  others  as  you  would  that  others 
should  do  unto  you." 

The  services  of  slaves  are,  in  this  region,  not 
confined  alone  to  out-door  employments  or  planta- 
tion labor,  but  every  department  of  mechanical 
occupation  may  be  found  filled  with  black  men ; 
and  it  is  also  worthy  of  remark  that  a  slave  who  is 
a  mechanic,  a  master  of  his  trade,  will  command  in 
the  market  a  price  nearly  double  that  of  one  who 
has  been  only  accustomed  to  plantation  labor. 
Many  slaves  are  owned  by  men  who  have  them- 
selves no  employment  for  them,  but  who  hire  them 
out,  or  even  give  them  permission  to  be  masters  of 
their  own  time,  on  condition  of  paying  a  certain 
stipulated  sum  weekly.  Instances  are  known  where 
some,  who  had  obtained  the  latter  privilege,  paid  to 
their  masters  their  weekly  contributions,  and  by  a 
continued  course  of  perseverance  and  economy, 
were  in  a  few  years  masters  of  a  sufficient  surplus 
fund  to  buy  their  own  freedom.  But,  unfortu- 
nately for  the  great  mass  of  the  degraded  race, 
few  masters  are  to  be  found  thus  liberal,  nor  are 
there  many  slaves  to  be  found  capable  of  practising 
so  unswerving  a  round  of  industry  and  self-denial. 
The  disposition  of  men,  who  let  out  their  slaves, 
appears  to  be  to  task  them  to  the  full  extent  of  their 
abilities,  and  some  even  charge  upon  them  a  larger 
Bum  than  they  can  raise,  and  then  punish  them  at 
the  end  of  the  week  for  being  unprepared  to  pay 
their  required  stipend.  As  an  instance  of  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        135 

meanness  to  which  a  slaveholder  can  bring  himself 
to  condescend,  I  will  here  notice  a  case  that  came 
to  my  own  personal  knowledge  at  Rio. 

A  master  hired  out  his  slave  at  five  millreis  per 
week.  The  fellow  was  frugal  and  industrious,  and 
contrived  to  pay  up  his  master  regularly  for  some 
weeks.  The  master  then  demanded  a  weekly  pay- 
ment of  six.  The  additional  rnillrei  the  slave  also 
paid  regularly,  without  a  murmur.  At  the  end  of 
two  months  the  slave,  finding  himself  in  possession 
of  a  surplus  sum  of  five  millreis,  ventured  to  lay  it 
out  in  the  purchase  of  a  lottery  ticket.  In  a  few 
weeks  the  ticket,  to  his  inexpressible  joy,  came  up 
a  prize  of  ten  thousand  millreis.  In  his  moments 
of  ecstacy,  he  ran  to  communicate  his  good  fortune 
to  his  master,  and  desired  to  know  what  portion  of 
it  would  purchase  his  freedom.  The  master,  ex- 
tremely pleased  at  the  good  fortune  of  the  faithful 
Pedro,  promised  him  his  freedom  on  condition  of 
dividing  the  spoils  share  and  share  alike.  To  this 
the  slave  consented,  and  the  two  proceeded  to  the 
bank  to  secure  the  money.  The  cash  was  counted 
down  to  the  master,  who  received  the  whole,  and 
sticking  it  coolly  in  his  pocket,  turned  round  upon 
the  innocent  Pedro  and  accused  him  of  stealing 
the  money  with  which  the  ticket  was  bought.  In 
vain  the  poor  slave  denied  the  charge.  His  master 
was  inexorable  ;  he  had  him  arrested  and  scourged 
to  the  number  of  three  hundred  lashes  for  theft. 
The  poor  negro,  heart-broken  and  lacerated,  was 


136        FIVK  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

then  placed  on  board  a  vessel  and  sent  to  the 
province  of  Rio  Grande,  where  his  master  sold  him 
for  four  hurrdred  millreis.  The  same  slave,  if  the 
generosity  of  his  master  has  not  annihilated  him, 
is  now  dragging  out  a  miserable  existence  on  a 
sugar  plantation. 

The  slave  trade  is  still  carried  on  to  some  extent 
within  the  territories  of  Brazil ;  but  the  number 
of  British  cruisers  constantly  prowling  about  the 
coast,  renders  the  traffic  unprofitable,  and  some- 
what hazardous  to  those  engaged  in  it.  Several 
slavers,  with  their  cargoes  on  board,  were  captured 
and  brought  into  the  port  of  Rio  Janeiro,  while  I 
resided  there,  and  as  I  had  read  much  in  the  Eng- 
lish prints  respecting  the  odiousness  of  slavery,  the 
wickedness  of  enriching  the  pocket  from  the  sale 
and  purchase  of  human  blood,  and  the  humane 
conduct  of  the  British  government  in  endeavoring 
to  suppress  the  traffic,  I  became  desirous  of  learn- 
ing something  of  the  manner  in  which  these  disin- 
terested charities  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain 
were  managed.  I  perceived  when  these  cargoes 
of  slaves  were  brought  into  port,  notices  were 
immediately  posted  up  along  the  streets  of  Rio, 
informing  the  citizens  that  any  desirous  of  procuring 
"servants  or  apprentices,"  could  do  so  by  applying 
on  board  her  Britanic  Majesty's  ship  Stag,  and 
entering  into  certain  obligations  with  Com.  Sul- 
livan. All  such  as  were  in  need  of  uninstrncted 
negroes,  fresh  from  the  Gold  coast,  went  to  Com. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        137 

Sullivan  and  bargained  somewhat  after   the  fol- 
lowing fashion : 

1.  They  were  to  pay  forty  dollars  for  an  able- 
bodied  negro. 

2.  They  were  to  have  him  for  five  years. 

3.  They  were  to  learn  him  a  trade,  or  instruct 
him  in  service. 

4.  They  were  to  enter  into  recognizances  for  his 
restoration  to  the  British  authorities  at  the  end  of 
the  five  years. 

These  stipulations  complied  with,  the  purchaser 
was  at  liberty  to  choose  one  or  more  negroes  from 
the  cargo  and  depart  with  him  at  his  pleasure.  It 
may  readily  be  supposed  that  on  such  liberal  terms 
a  cargo  of  slaves  could  soon  be  disposed  of,  and 
especially  so,  when  the  British  Commodore  was  so 
excessively  liberal  as  to  be  entirely  indifferent  con- 
cerning the  character  of  the  surety. 

The  restoration  of  these  "  apprentices,  or  ser- 
vants," at  the  end  of  five  years,  was  claimed  by 
the  British  authorities,  with  a  view  to  their  coloni- 
zation to  Sierra  Leone.  Were  the  intentions  fol- 
lowed out  to  the  letter,  it  would,  doubtless,  be  all 
well  enough ;  but,  unfortunately  for  the  poor 
blacks,  there  are  two  defects  in  the  system  which 
invariably  defeat  them.  First,  as  the  absence  of 
the  "apprentice,"  after  having  become  useful  in 
his  trade,  would  be  a  loss  to  the  purchaser,  the 
latter  never  thinks  of  restoring  him  to  the  British 
authorities  ;  and,  second,  as  the  British  authorities 
12* 


138       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

cannot  colonize  the  apprentice  without  incurring 
some  expense,  they  never  think  of  reclaiming  him. 
His  sale  was  profitable  and  brought  forth  prize 
money,  but  there  is  an  outlay  in  sending  him  to 
Sierra  Leone.  Pro  and  con,  on  the  purse,  make  a 
vast  difference  in  British  humanity.  But  should 
enquiries  be  made  in  reference  to  any  one  of  these 
apprentices,  at  the  end  of  five  years,  it  would  be 
found  that  his  master  had  removed  with  him  to 
parts  unknown  ;  and  if  search  was  put  on  foot  for 
the  surety,  he  too  would  be  found  gone  with  another 
of  the  servants,  and  the  two  blacks,  at  the  very 
time,  would  more  than  probably  be  toiling  and 
sweating  on  some 'plantation  in  a  distant  portion 
of  the  empire.  But  no  matter.  The  British  au- 
thorities received  sixteen  thousand  dollars  for  the 
brig, and  eight  thousand  dollars  for  the  slaves;  and 
twenty-four  thousand  dollars  is  a  snug  little  sum 
of  prize  money,  if  it  even  be  obtained  by  a  seizure, 
which  the  same  government,  eighty  years  ago, 
would  have  designated  as  an  act  of  piracy. 

From  the  foregoing  considerations,  and  a  few 
others  which  might  be  adduced,  I  am  constrained 
to  say  that  whatever  be  the  encomiums  lavished 
upon  the  British  method  of  suppressing  the  slave 
trade  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  it  brings  but  few 
blessings  to  those  Africans  who  are  once  brought 
within  the  boundaries  of  that  Empire.  They  be- 
come slaves  as  effectually  and  everlastingly,  by  the 
English  apprentice  system,  as  if  sold  into  bondage 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       139 

by  the  original  kidnapper ;  while  the  British  offi- 
cers and  the  British  government  go  snacks  in  the 
speculation,  and  pocketing  the  cash  for  the  vessel, 
and  the  cash  for  the  slaves,  gain  thereby  a  glorious 
reputation  for  disinterested  benevolence,  humanity, 
and  philanthropy.  Tell  us,  ye  charitable  aboli- 
tionists of  Britain,  who  denounce  a  portion  of  the 
American  people  as  bloodying  their  hands  in  human 
gore ;  and  you,  also,  who  regardless  of  the  op- 
pressed of  your  own  country,  throw  your  thousands 
of  pounds  in  the  lap  of  the  benevolent-hearted  Mrs. 
Stowe,  to  extirpate  the  system  of  slavery ;  would  it 
not  be  as  creditable  to  yourselves,  and  the  cause 
you  espouse,  to  wash  the  stain  from  your  own  fin- 
gers before  you  attempt  to  gouge  out  the  eyes  of 
those  whom  the  by-gone  policy  of  your  own  gov- 
ernment has  irretrievably  cursed  with  the  perni- 
cious institution  you  so  much  despise  ? 


The  Jour.  Shoemaker,  bidding  good-bye  to  the  Bench,  takes  again 
to  Salt  Water,  and  is  sent  on  board  a  Ship  against  his  own  con- 
sent 

IN  a  somewhat  obscure  portion  of  the  city  of 
Rio  Janeiro,  adjoining  to  Castle  Hill,  stood  an 
elegant  public  house,  which  was  kept  by  a  person 
of  doubtful  character.  The  name  of  the  indi- 
vidual was  Surfe.  He  was  a  German  by  birth,  but 
spoke  the  English,  French,  Spanish,  and  Portu- 
guese languages,  with  a  fluency  equal  to  that  with 
which  he  iterated  his  own  vernacular.  He  had 
formerly  been  employed  as  a  spy  by  the  Emperor, 
Don  Pedro  the  First,  during  the  turbulence  of  the 
latter  portion  of  his  reign.  He  was  a  gambler  by 
profession,  and  in  general  bore  the  reputation  of 
being  a  bad  man,  but  by  a  polished  exterior,  and 
by  the  fluency  with  which  he  spoke  the  various 
languages,  he  always  contrived  to  attract  a  large 
concourse  of  visitors  to  his  house.  His  billiard 
rooms  were  superbly  furnished,  and  almost  con- 
stantly filled  with  strangers.  He  was  supposed  to 
have  been  concerned  in  two  or  three  murders, 
which  had  been  committed  in  the  city,  but  aa  no 
(140) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         141 

proof  could  be  elicited  in  support  of  the  accusa- 
tion, it  of  course  amounted  to  nothing. 

Among  the  inmates  of  this  establishment,  was  a 
pretty  English  girl,  named  Mary  Mertle.  This 
young  -woman  had  resided  in  Rio  some  months  be- 
fore my  arrival  there.  She  had  been  brought  to 
Brazil  by  her  father,  who  was  a  miner,  and  had 
been  employed  at  the  .gold  mines,  but  who,  becom- 
ing dissatisfied  with  his  employers,  as  well  as  the 
country,  resolved  to  return  to  England.  On  his 
arrival  at  Rio,  finding  no  vessel  bound  directly  for 
England,  he  was  induced  to  take  up  his  lodgings 
at  Surfe's  until  one  should  be  ready  to  sail.  The 
beauty  of  Mary  attracted  the  attention  of  Surfe, 
who,  though  already  in  possession  of  two  wives, 
determined  if  possible  to  possess  himself  of  thig 
girl's  charms.  Mary  being  persuaded  that  he  was 
a  single  man,  lent  but  too  willing  an  ear  to  the  fiat- 
teries  of  Surfe ;  and  her  unsuspecting  mind,  being 
captivated  with  the  prospect  of  becoming  the  mis- 
tress of  so  fine  a  mansion,  induced  her,  in  an  evil 
hour,  to  desert  her  parents.  Surfe,  to  make  sure 
of  his  prey,  secreted  her  in  one  of  his  private  dens 
of  which  he  had  a  number  in  different  parts  of  the 
city.  When  the  ship  was  ready  to  sail,  Mary  was 
nowhere  to  be  found,  and  the  humane  captain,  sym- 
pathizing with  the  parents,  delayed  sailing  for  two 
days  in  order  that  the  search  might  be  continued 
for  her.  But  all  the  efforts  set  on  foot  for  her 
recover^  were  useless.  Mary  was  still  lost;  and 


142       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  sorrowing  parents,  weary  and  disheartened, 
finally  took  their  departure  for  England,  in  tears, 
for  the  loss  of  their  only  child. 

On  the  departure  of  her  parents,  Mary  reap- 
peared, and  became  the  principal  feature  of  attrac- 
tion at  Surfe's  house.  But  being  a  little  vain,  she 
loved  to  be  flattered  by  the  young  men  with  whom 
she  would  converse  ;  and  the  humorous  pleasantries 
in  which  she  indulged  with  them,  soon  aroused  the 
jealousy  of  her  paramour.  For  a  while  he  smoth- 
ered his  passion  ;  but  becoming  linked  in  with  a 
Spanish  desperado,  named  Trifarier,  who  did  all  he 
could  to  fan  his  jealousy  into  a  flame,  he  soon  gave 
way  to  fits  of  ill  humor.  The  patient  Mary  was  at 
first  only  greeted  with  curses,  but  by  degrees  his 
passion  took  a  sterner  shape ;  and  at  times  his  con- 
duct was  marked  with  such  brutality  that  the  ob- 
ject of  his  vengeance  was  compelled  to  flee  his 
house,  and  shelter  herself,  until  the  storm  had  sub- 
sided with  an  acquaintance  of  hers,  named  Margaret 
Ferguson.  It  was  at  the  house  of  the  last  named 
person  that  I  first  beheld  Mary.  I  had  never  been 
at  Surfe's  house,  but  on  being  invited  thither  by 
Mary  I  resolved  to  visit  its  wonders.  I  went,  and 
being  delighted  with  the  elegance  of  the  billiard 
rooms,  I  at  once  lent  them  my  patronage.  No 
misunderstanding  ever  arose  between  the  proprietor 
and  myself,  nor  was  I  conscious  that  he  ever  nour- 
ished the  least  eviljtb/mght  against  me,  until  apprised 
to  the  contrary  by  the  friend  of  Mary.  I  was  one 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        148 

night  sitting  quietly  in  the  bar-room  of  Mrs.  Fer- 
guson, eating  an  orange,  when  the  latter  entered 
and  whispered  in  my  ear,  that  Surfe,  and  Trifarier, 
were  in  the  kitchen  plotting  some  evil  against  me. 
The  thought  for  the  first  time  struck  me,  that  he 
might  possibly  suspect  an  intimacy  between  Mary 
and  myself,  and  hence  I  believed  it  best  to  move  for 
home.  I  started  immediately,  and  in  stepping  from 
the  door  into  the  street,  was  confronted  by  Trifa- 
rier, who  darted  from  an  alley  and  flourished  a 
knife.  At  the  same  instant,  Surfe  appeared  at  the 
corner  of  the  house,  and  grasped  at  me  to  intercept 
my  passage ;  but  darting  hastily  by  him,  I  hurried 
rapidly  on  towards  the  palace  square.  Both  pur- 
Bued  after  me  for  some  distance ;  but  finding  me  too 
expert  in  the  athletic  exercises  for  them  to  win  the 
game,  they  finally  abandoned  the  chase ;  while  I, 
changing  my  course  into  the  Rue  do  Ovidor,  wended 
my  way  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Bridges. 

Some  three  weeks  following  the  preceding  inci- 
dent, a  respectable  Spanish  gentleman  suddenly 
disappeared  from  the  world ;  and  as  he  had  been 
last  seen  at  the  house  of  Surfe,  it  was  strongly  sus- 
pected that  he,  or  some  one  of  his  associates,  had 
put  him  out  of  the  way.  The  matter  soon  raised  a 
considerable  excitement,  and  the  suspicion  being 
daily  strengthened  against  Surfe,  by  the  concur- 
rence of  circumstances,  soon  led  to  his  arrest. 
About  a  week  after  his  imprisonment,  the  evidence 
against  him  was  rendered  still  more  conclusive,  by 


144       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  discovery  of  the  missing  gentleman's  remains 
in  an  excavation  in  Castle  Hill,  immediately  in  the 
rear  of  Surfe's  house.  Trifarier  was  also  suspected 
of  being  implicated  in  the  murder,  and  would  have 
been  arrested,  but  taking  time  by  the  forelock  he 
managed  to  make  his  escape,  and  thus  added  an- 
other proof  of  the  guilt  of  Surfe. 

While  Surfe  was  awaiting  his  trial  in  prison,  hia 
lawful  wife  concluded  to  let  the  public  house  at 
rent,  and  a  female  adventurer  distinguished  at  Rio 
under  the  soubriquet  of  "Scotch  Liz,  became  the  les- 
see. Mary  still  remained  under  the  administration 
of  Liz ;  and  the  coast  being  now  clear  of  all  ene- 
mies, my  visits  to  the  rooms  were  resumed  with  a 
greater  frequency. 

At  this  juncture  of  affairs,  I  found  myself  placed 
in  a  kind  of  dilemma.  I  loved  to  play  billiards 
exceedingly  well,  and  to  play  billiards  required  mo- 
ney, and  there  was  not  much  money  to  be  made  in 
Rio  by  bottoming  fine  boots  at  one  dollar  a  pair. 
What  was  to  be  done  ?  I  set  my  wits  to  work  to  see 
if  I  could  not  hit  on  a  plan  to  make  money  a  little 
faster,  but  I  could  suggest  none  that  I  thought 
would  work.  It  appeared  to  me  that  I  would  either 
have  to  cut  loose  from  the  billiard  rooms,  or  cut 
loose  from  the  bench ;  and  after  revolving  the  sub- 
ject in  my  mind  for  a  few  days,  I  determined  to  do 
both.  I  was  a  little  influenced  in  coming  to  this 

O 

decision,  by  a  young  man  named  Andrew  M.  Cis- 
ney,  who  had  quitted  a  merchant  ship  at  Rio,  in 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        145 

which  he  hnd  come  out  as  second  mate.  Cisney 
and  I  resolved  to  try  our  fortunes  in  the  United 
States'  Exploring  Squadron,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Wilkes,  which  had  then  touched  at  Rio  harbor  on 
its  way  to  the  South  Pacific.  In  pursuance  of  our 
enterprise,  we  went  on  board  the  Peacock,  in  which 
vessel  'Cisney  succeeded  in  shipping  as  master's 
mate.  I  made  an  attempt  to  ship  as  purser's  stew- 
ard, but  was  told  by  the  purser  that  his  profits 
would  not  enable  him  to  employ  a  steward.  I  then 
went  on  board  the  Vincennes,  where  I  offered  to 
ship  before  the  mast.  They  were  in  need  of  a  few 
able  seamen,  but  as  I  was  too  inexperienced  to  pass 
for  an  able  seaman,  they  declined  shipping  me. 
They  finally  offered  to  receive  me  on  board  the 
schooner  Flying-fish,  which  was  attached  to  the 
squadron,  but  I  declined  going  in  her,  and  fortunate 
I  was,  in  objecting,  as  the  schooner,  and  all  her 
crew,  were  shortly  afterward  lost  in  the  Straits  of 
Magellan.  The  Peacock  was  also  subsequently  lost 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river,  but  by  extra- 
ordinary exertions  her  crew  were  saved. 

Having  missed  a  berth  in  the  exploring  squad- 
ron, I  began  to  look  in  the  direction  of  the  Brazil- 
ian merchant  service,  and  after  searching  two  days 
among  the  shipping,  finally  entered  my  name  on  a 
small  brig,  bound  up  the  coast  for  a  cargo  of  coffee. 
My  wages  were  settled  at  eighteen  milreis  per 
month,  and  small  stores  found.  We  sailed  the  day 
following  that  on  which  I  had  shipped,  and  though 
13 


146        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

we  had  a  head  wind  for  two  days,  we  managed  to 
beat  up  the  coast  as  far  as  Ilha  Grande.  I  now 
became  anxious  of  getting  some  intelligence  of 
Mark  Leighton,  and  endeavored  to  persuade  the 
captain  to  put  into  Palmas  bay  and  anchor  there 
until  the  wind  should  change ;  but  he  appeared 
little  disposed  to  come  to  a  halt,  and  I  had  "conse- 
quently to  give  up  the  prospect  of  seeing  my  old 
friend  that  trip. 

After  a  voyage  of  four  days  we  arrived  at  our 
place  of  destination,  which  was  a  small  village  some 
few  leagues  above  the  town  of  Angra,  and  imme- 
diately commenced  taking  on  board  our  coffee. 
During  the  process  of  loading,  the  chief  labor  of 
which  was  performed  by  the  slaves  of  the  neigh- 
bouring plantation,  the  Captain  gave  us  our  board- 
ing on  shore,  and  permitted  us  to  roam  at  our  own 
pleasure.  I  had  thus  an  opportunity  of  witnessing 
a  little  more  of  Brazilian  manners.  As  the  house 
at  which  we  lodged  was  that  of  a  wealthy  planter, 
and  owner  of  some  sixty  or  seventy  slaves,  I  anti- 
cipated a  more  luxurious  appearance  within  than  I 
had  been  accustomed  to  witness  in  the  oven-like 
edifices  of  Rio,  and  the  rural  cottages  of  Ilha 
Grande,  but  in  this  I  was  somewhat  disappointed. 
The  house  was  divided  into  only  two  apartments, 
without  any  upstairs  or  chimney.  There  were  holes 
for  the  windows,  but  no  glass  in  them.  The  fur- 
niture consisted  of  a  large  table,  made  from  a  rough 
plank  hewn  out  with  an  axe,  a  bench  of  like  con- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       147 

struction,  four  or  five  stools  manufactured  in  the 
same  rude  style,  and  a  large  rush  mat,  thrown  for 
a  carpet  on  a  clay  floor.  In  the  adjoining  room  I 
noticed  two  or  three  bedsteads  of  very  rude  shape, 
and  a  large  clothes-chest,  somewhat  resembling  the 
arm-chest  of  a  vessel  of  war.  On  being  called  to 
dinner,  several  dishes  were  placed  before  us,  but 
knives  and  forks  there  were  none  on  the  table.  All 
took  their  seats,  the  family  as  well  as  those  from  the 
brig.  Two  fine  looking  girls,  daughters  of  the  plan- 
ter, sat  at  the  upper  end  of  the  table,  near  their 
parents.  There  was  no  bread,  but  in  lieu  of  it 
there  was  a  delicate  kind  of  cake,  prepared  from 
the  common  cassada  of  the  country,  which  was  very 
hard  and  dry,  but  which,  on  being  saturated  with 
coffee,  became  softer  than  the  pulp  of  the  ripest 
orange.  There  was  also  a  species  of  coarse  meal, 
manufactured  from  the  same  root,  which,  on  re- 
ceiving the  addition  of  a  little  beef  gravy,  formed 
quite  a  delicious  morsel  to  the  taste. .  The  natives 
rolled  it  up  into  little  balls  with  their  fingers,  and 
giving  them  a  quick  toss  into  their  mouths,  snapped 
them  up  with  the  facility  of  pet  spaniels.  I  watched 
the  motions  of  the  rest,  with  a  desire  to  imitate 
them.  As  soon  as  I  thought  myself  sufficiently 
instructed,  I  rolled  up  a  ball  and  gave  it  a  sling, 
but  missing  my  mouth,  the  ball  unfortunately  struck 
me  immediately  under  the  nose,  and  tumbled  back 
into  my  lap.  Nothing  daunted,  I  grasped  my  ball, 
and  rallied  for  another  attempt,  at  the  same  time 


148        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

casting  my  eye  round  the  table  to  see  if  any  one 
had  noticed  the  failure  of  my  first  experiment.  I 
fancied  I  saw  a  smile  crossing  the  features  of  the 
captain,  but  caring  nothing  for  him,  I  threw  back 
my  head,  and  opening  my  mouth  upward  like  the 
crater  of  a  volcano,  gave  my  ball  another  throw, 
when  in  it  went,  and  disappeared  downward  as 
smoothly  as  an  oiled  bullet.  When  once  in,  I 
found  this  farinhia  quite  palatable,  and  between  it 
and  roast  beef,  baked  yams,  fish,  oranges,  sweet 
potatoes  and  bananas,  I  managed  to  fare  about  as 
well  as  I  had  done  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Bridges. 
In  a  few  days,  the  slaves  having  completed  the 
loading  of  our  vessel,  we  bid  farewell  to  our  new 
acquaintances  and  returned  to  Rio. 

During  my  absence  from  the  city,  which  was  a 
period  of  three  weeks,  the  trial  of  Surfe  had  taken 
place.  The  evidence  against  him  was  not  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  convict  him  of  murder  in  the  first 
degree,  but  he  was  nevertheless  proven  to  have 
participated  therein,  and  was  consequently  sen- 
tenced to  seven  years  hard  labor  in  the  galleys. 
I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  this  hardened  crim- 
inal led  from  his  prison  in  chains,  and  conveyed  to 
his  future  home  on  'a  fortified  island  opposite  to  the 
city. 

As  soon  as  my  business  in  the  brig  would  per- 
mit, I  made  a  visit  to  the  residence  of  Scotch  Liz. 
I  found  poor  Mary  sick.  She  had  then  been 
reduced  to  her  bed  for  a  period  of  two  weeks,  and 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        149 

according  to  her  own  statement,  had  been  shame- 
fully neglected  by  many  who  had  formerly  pro- 
fessed to  be  her  friends.  Those  who  had  admired, 
courted  and  flattered  her  in  her  hours  of  health  and 
beauty,  abandoned  her  on  the  bed  of  sickness ;  and 
this  unhappy  reverse,  falling  with  an  icy  chill  on 
her  wounded  heart,  made  her  regret  deeply  and 
feelingly  that  she  had  ever  permitted  herself  to  be 
led  astray  from  the  protection  of  her  tender  parents. 
She  was  anxious  to  set  up  in  bed,  but  found  her- 
self unable  to  rise,  and  on  being  helped  up  by  me, 
she  commenced  weeping,  and  asked  me  if  she  did 
not  look  wonderfully  altered.  I  observed  that  she 
certainly  was  very  sadly  reduced,  but  hoped  that  a 
few  days  might  bring  a  change  for  the  better. 
Words  of  hope  and  encouragement,  however,  had  no 
cheering  effect  on  h'er  mind,  for  she  shook  her  head 
with  a  sigh,  and  answered  that  she  had  no  hope 
of  ever  recovering. 

"Yet,"  observed  she,  her  tears  starting  afresh, 
"  I  believe  I  would  feel  better  to-day  if  I  had  a 
little  something  warm  to  eat." 

"Something  to  eat!"  exclaimed  I;  "does  not 
Liz  furnish  you  with  victuals  ?" 

"I  have  not  seen  her  in  four  days,"  articulated 
the  weeping  girl.  "  The  last  time  she  was  here, 
she  came  in  company  with  Mrs.  Surfe,  who  was  so 
kind  as  to  bring  me  a  few  clean  clothes." 

On  learning  this,  I  repaired  immediately  to  the 
kitchen,  and  ordered  the  cook  to  make  a  bowl  of 
13* 


150       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

mutton  broth,  which  I  carried  up  to  the  invalid. 
She  ate  about  half  of  it,  and  setting  the  rest  on  a 
Btand  by  the  bedside,  for  future  use,  expressed  her- 
self as  feeling  much  refreshed.  I  shortly  after- 
wards took  my  leave,  with  a  promise  of  calling  to 
see  her  again  in  the  course  of  two  days.  During 
the  remainder  of  the  week  we  were,  however,  too 
busy  in  taking  on  board  a  second  cargo  to  spare 
any  man  from  the  brig,  and  I  was  consequently 
obliged  to  postpone  my  visit  to  the  shore  for  a 
period  of  four  days.  As  soon  as  I  was  able  to 
procure  leave  of  absence,  I  repaired  once  more  to 
the  residence  of  Liz,  but  found  poor  Mary's  trou- 
ble had  ceased  for  ever.  She  had  died  the  second 
night  after  my  former  visit,  and  was  inhumed  by 
the  city  undertakers  in  the  pauper  vault  in  the 
rear  of  the  public  hospital. 

There  are  some  things  in  the  world  which,  when 
once  known,  make  the  heart  shudder  to  think  of 
them ;  and  the  last  resting-place  of  the  unfortu- 
nate Mary  was  one  of  this  kind.  Let  the  reader 
imagine  to  himself  an  immense  pit,  winding  its  way 
deeply  into  the  earth,  its  dark  stone  walls  encirc- 
ling bones  of  departed  humanity,  piled  layer  upon 
layer,  until  terminated  at  the  surface  with  the 
bodies  of  those  who  have  last  made  their  unhappy 
transit  from  the  world;  let  him  behold  the  up- 
turned faces  of  the  dead,  mingled  confusedly 
together,  without  distinction  of  sex  or  color,  many 
of  them  unclad,  and  their  glassy  eye-balls  strained 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        151 

as  if  grasping  vainly  for  one  faint  gleam  of  heav- 
en's pure  light ;  let  him  with  his  hand  remove  the 
stone  that  guards  the  entrance  to  this  gloomy 
eternity,  and  as  the  bright  sun  penetrates  below, 
look  down.  Here  he  will  behold,  exemplified,  the 
ravages  of  the  fell  destroyer  in  their  most  revolt- 
ing form,  not  only  in  the  ghastly  visage  of  the 
sable  African,  and  the  pale  cheek  of  the  departed 
maiden  ;  but  youth,  beauty,  manhood,  tender  in- 
fancy and  old  age,  are  all  smitten  together  in  one 
common  heap  of  mouldering  death,  the  slime  of 
their  corruption  oozing  from  the  sewers  of  the  vast 
reservoir,  and  mingling  with  the  waters  of  the 
neighboring  bay;  let  him,  if  he  can, imagine  such 
a  place,  and  he  will  have  some  faint  conception  of 
the  last  resting-place  of  poor  Mary  Mertle. 

I  know  not  why  it  was,  but  on  the  very  night 
after  I  had  learned  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate 
Mary,  I  found  myself,  at  a  late  hour,  sitting  on  the 
stone  that  covered  the  entrance  to  this  gloomy 
charnel.  At  any  former  period,  nothing  would 
have  induced  me  to  go  there,  yet  now  I  sat  un- 
conscious of  surrounding  objects,  meditating  on 
the  past,  present,  and  the  future,  and  occasionally 
bending  my  eyes  along  the  northern  horizon  in 
vain  search  of  that  polar  star,  whose  faint  though 
sparkling  ray  was  at  that  moment  shedding  its  dim 
lustre  over  the  hills  and  valleys  of  my  native  land. 
Then  the  images  of  once  beloved  forms  arose  be- 
fore my  fancy,  mingling  their  smiling  faces  with 


152        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  pallid  features  of  the  departed  Mary;  a«d 
when  I  called  to  reflection  the  immense  distance  I 
was  from  them,  the  thought  arose  in  my  mind  how 
easily  a  slight  chill  or  casual  fever  might  suddenly 
cut  short  my  career,  and  send  me  to  sleep  my  last 
long  sleep  with  Mary,  in  this  solitary  though 
densely  peopled  tomb.  The  thought  was  so  hor- 
rible that  I  rose  hastily  to  depart,  but  felt  myself 
arrested  by  a  rude  grasp  from  behind.  With  hair 
standing  erect,  I  turned  quickly  round  and  con- 
fronted three  soldiers,  two  of  whom  had  already 
pinioned  my  arms,  while  the  third  was  flourishing 
a  sabre  over  my  head.  I  struggled  to  release 
myself,  but  it  was  of  no  use,  for  they  were  both 
stout  men,  and  held  me  as  firmly  as  if  I  had  been 
fixed  in  a  vice.  I  judged  from  the  military  char- 
acter of  their  dress,  that  they  were  in  the  employ 
of  government,  and  inquired,  as  well  as  I  could, 
if  they  belonged  to  the  police;  but  they  only 
answered  by  telling  me  that  I  must  go  with 
them.  I  was  presently  convinced  that  they  were 
attached  to  a  press-gang,  and  finally  told  them  that 
they  had  no  business  with  -me,  as  I  was  an  Ameri- 
can. By  this  time  three  or  four  more  made  their 
appearance,  and  one  of  them  having  heard  my 
remark,  asked  me  to  show  him  my  protection. 
This  I  did,  and  though  he  held  it  up  to  a  lantern, 
he  could  not  read  it,  but  handing  it  to  one  of  hia 
comrades,  observed  that  it  was  a  sham  protection, 
as  the  name  of  the  American  Consul  was  not 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  .THE  MAST.        153 

attached  to  it.  I  now  begged  them  to  go  with  me 
to  the  house  of  Scotch  Liz,  where  I  hoped  to  prove 
my  citizenship,  and  have  the  protection  interpreted. 
They  accompanied  me  thither,  and  I  had  Liz  called 
to  the  door,  but  on  referring  my  situation  to  her, 
she  denied  knowing  me,  and  told  me  I  ought  to  be 
ashamed  of  refusing  to  serve  my  country.  I  re- 
plied that  I  was  not  ashamed  to  serve  my  country, 
but  that  I  would  see  her  and  all  the  infernal  tribe 
of  Brazilians  to  their  Patron  Saint  before  I  would 
serve  any  country  that  harbored  her.  The  soldiers 
set  up  a  loud  laugh  when  this  sally  was  interpreted 
to  them,  and  two  men,  taking  hold  of  me  by  each 
arm,  gallanted  me  off  a  la  mode  militaire  to  a  place 
called  the  "Banco,"  where  I  was  locked  up  for 
the  night,  and  left  to  select  my  own  lodgings  on 
the  softest  spot  I  could  find  on  a  stone  paved 
floor. 

On  the  following  morning  about  sunrise,  I  was 
guarded  to  the  wharf,  in  company  with  three  or 
four  more  melancholy  looking  customers,  who, 
doubtless,  felt  about  as  deep  an  interest  in  the  pro- 
ceedings as  myself.  Here  a  boat  was  in  waiting 
for  us,  in  which  we  were  commanded  to  take  our 
seats.  Our  guard  was  then  dispensed  with,  and 
we  were  rowed  off  on  board  a  frigate,  called  the 
"Prince  Imperial."  I  now  began  to  have  some 
indistinct  foreknowledge  of  what  my  destination 
was  to  be.  I  had  before  learned  that  the  Prince 
Imperial  was  being  equipped  for  an  expedition 


154        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

against  the  rebels,  at  Bahia ;  and  I  now  suspected 
myself  in  a  fair  way  of  getting  into  a  scrape,  where 
there  would  be  some  breaking  of  heads,  and  slitting 
of  noses,  as  well  as  a  strong  smell  of  gunpowder. 
With  some  disagreeable  presentiments  as  to  future 
results,  I  crawled  away  into  a  corner  of  the  ship, 
to  brood  over  my  misfortunes.  The  brig  in  which 
I  had  been  employed,  would  sail  this  day,  and  I 
felt  certain  that  all  my  wages  there,  would  be  a 
clear  loss.  My  clothing,  which  was  also  on  the 
vessel,  I  felt  desirous  of  having  conveyed  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Bridges ;  but  as  I  was  prohibited  from 
having  any  communication  with  the  shore,  I  was 
compelled  to  give  them  up  as  lost  too.  I  felt 
strongly  inclined  to  hunt  up  the  captain  of  the  frig- 
ate, and  make  to  him  a  full  statement  of  my  case; 
but  as  I  could  speak  but  little  of  the  language,  I 
finally  concluded  that  it  would  be  of  no  use.  Every 
thing  about  the  ship  wore  a  disagreeable  look ;  the 
men  were  black  and  sullen  :  the  rations  looked  more 
like  a  mess  prepared  for  a  herd  of  swine,  than  for 
seamen ;  and  even  the  commandant,  with  his  black, 
hairy  visage,  and  broad  licentious  grin,  bore  a  nearer 
resemblance  to  an  epauletted  Ourang  Outang,  than 
to  a  naval  officer.  Altogether,  I  began  to  consider 
my  situation  here,  as  worse  than  it  had  been  in  the 
whaler;  and  I  thought  Mr.  Denison,  with  all  his 
faults,  a  much  more  agreeable  officer  than  this 
cocked-hatted  Brazilian.  Each  day  I  became  more 
restless,  and  cursed  Scotch  Liz  a  thousand  times 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        155 

over ;  for  I  felt  sure  that  she  could  have  prevented 
my  impressment,  had  she  been  disposed  to  do  so. 
I  would  gladly  have  run  away,  could  I  have  done 
so — aye,  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles  per  hour — but  I 
was  cooped  up  beyond  the  possibility  of  doing  any 
thing  for  my  personal  liberty.  Occasionally  I 
measured  the  distance  to  the  shore  with  my  eye, 
to  see  if  I  could  swim  it,  but  it  was  a  vain  hope, 
next  to  desperation,  and  I  did  not  yet  look  upon  my 
case  as  so  far  beyond  the  possibility  of  redemption, 
as  to  justify  suicide. 

When  I  ,had  been  on  board  about  ten  days,  a 
boat  from  the  American  ship  Independence,  came 
alongside  the  Prince  Imperial,  to  invite  the  Brazil- 
ian officers  to  a  ball,  which  was  to  be  given  on 
board  the  former  vessel ;  and  while  the  Yankee 
midshipman  was  communicating  his  message  in  the 
cabin,  I  glided  down  the  ship's  side,  to  the  boat, 
and  requested  one  of  the  men  to  transmit  a  few 
lines  for  me  to  the  American  Consul.  He  con- 
sented to  do  so,  and  writing  a  brief  note  in  pencil 
on  the  back  of  my  protection,  directed  it  to 
the  Consul.  The  boat  rowed  off,  and  my  spirits 
immediately  revived  at  the  prospect  of  once  more 
becoming  my  own  master.  Like  a  drowning  man 
grasping  at  a  straw,  I  was  elated  at  the  merest 
trifle  that  led  to  a  hope  of  liberty.  It  was  a  thou- 
sand chances  to  one,  whether  my  lines  would  ever 
find  their  way  to  the  office  of  the  Consul;  but  not- 
withstanding, I  continued  to  hope.  Each  night  I 


156       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  TIIE  MAST. 

repeated  to  myself,  that  to-morrow  would  be  my 
last  stay  in  the  dismal  service,  but  was  as  often 
doomed  to  disappointment. 

Some  eight  days  after  the  dispatch  of  my  note 
with  the  Independence  boat,  a  Brazilian  officer 
came  on  board,  and  ordered  me  to  be  called  up. 
After  a  number  of  questions  relative  to  my  impress- 
ment, the  most  of  which  I  understood  but  im- 
perfectly, he  presented  me  my  protection,  and 
asked  if  that  belonged  to  me.  I  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  upon  which  he  had  a  shore  boat  called 
alongside  the  ship,  and  ordered  me  to  get  into  it. 
As  I  walked  over  the  gangway,  he  told  me  I  was 
now  my  own  master,  and  might  go  wherever  I 
pleased.  I  thanked  him  for  his  kindness  in  my 
own  language ;  and  observing  to  the  boatman,  that 
it  was  the.  only  good  news  I  had  heard  in  three 
weeks,  directed  him  to  row  me  to  the  landing  at 
the  Hotel  Phareaux. 


"The  adventurer  introduces  himself  on  board  an  American  man« 
o'-war  and  becomes  a  member  of  Uncle  Sam's  Mess. 

IN  having  escaped  the  clutches  of  the  Brazilians, 
I  considered  myself  very  fortunate,  notwithstanding 
I  had  lost  nearly  a  month's  wages  in  the  brig,  and 
more  than  three  weeks'  time  in  the  Prince  Impe- 
rial. But  though  I  congratulated  myself  on  being 
again  free,  I  knew  not  how  long  that  freedom  might 
last.  In  a  government,  under  which  life  is  but  too 
often  a  secondary  consideration  to  property,  and 
where  affluence  alone  can  command  the  protection 
of  personal  rights,  a  poor  man  seldom  meets  with 
a  ready  redress  of  grievances.  The  last  four 
weeks  had  given  me  an  ample  sufficiency  of  Brazil ; 
and  I  was  well  convinced  that  my  personal  rights 
and  safety  could  be  in  no  way  better  secured  than 
by  getting  out  of  it.  To  return  home  became  now 
my  most  ardent  wish  ;  but  there  appeared  no  way 
of  accomplishing  it  than  by  working  my  passage 
home  gratis  ;  and  I  possessed  too  much  pride  to 
reappear  among  my  former  friends  in  a  situation 
little  short  of  downright  beggery.  Under  these 
adverse  circumstances,  the  most  promising  resource 
14  ( 157 ) 


158        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

that  seemed  to  offer  itself,  was  the  United  States 
Navy.  The  squadron  had  then  been  on  the  coast 
some  eighteen  months,  and  would  certainly  return 
home  within  two  years.  I  had  now,  in  some  meas- 
ure, become  accustomed  to  a  man-o'-war,  and  was 
satisfied  that  unless  the  treatment  proved  too  out- 
rageous, I  would  be  able  to  endure  the  service. 
An  enlistment  also  secured  me  a  sure  passage 
home,  while  my  wages  would  enable  me  to  make  a 
moderately  respectable  appearance.  All  things 
running  thus  favorably  into  my  new  project,  I  went 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Bridges,  to  make  immediate 
preparation  for  leaving  Rio.  In  two  days  all  was 
completed,  upon  which  I  went  and  gave  Scotch 
Liz  a  broadside  in  the  tongue  line,  as  sailors  say, 
and  then  took  up  my  line  of  march  for  the  land- 
ing. Here  I  found  one  of  the  Independence  boats 
just  quitting  the  wharf  for  the  ship.  I  asked  the 
officer  of  the  boat,  who  was  a  passed  midshipman, 
for  a  passage  to  the  frigate,  and  on  receiving  hia 
nod  of  assent,  took  my  seat  opposite  to  him,  in  the 
stern  sheets.  He  kept  a  scrutinizing  eye  upon  me 
for  some  time,  and  when  finally  clear  of  the  crowd 
of  boats  that  continually  obstructed  the  landing, 
he  commenced  a  series  of  questions  in  a  strain  of 
inquisitiveness  that  would  have  done  credit  to  the 
most  thorough-bred  Yankee. 

"  Have  you  any  acquaintances  on  board  the  ship 
you  wish  to  see?"  observed  he. 

I  answered  in  the  negative. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        159 

"  Just  going  to  see  the  ship,  eh  ?" 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  have  some  notion  of  shipping." 

"  Of  shipping,  eh  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir — of  shipping." 

"  What   countryman   are    you  ?      An   English- 
man ?" 

"No,  sir,  I  am  an  American." 

"  How  did  you  come  to  Rio  ?" 

"  I  came  in  a  whale  ship." 

"  In  a  whale  ship,  eh  ?     Did  you  run  away  from 
her?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  did." 

"What  made  you  leave  her?" 

"  I  did  not  like  the  work,  sir." 

"  The  work,  eh  ?     Was  it  too  hard  for  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Better  stayed  ashore  then,  for  you'll  never  do 
for  a  man-o'-war." 

"  Why  so,  sir  ?"  inquired  I. 

"  Because  we  are  obliged  to  work  day  and  night 
in  our  ship."  ?.   ' 

"  So  they  were  in  the  whaler." 

"  But  our  work  is  very  hard." 

"  So  it  was  in  the  whaler." 

"  But  they  flog  the  men  in  our  ship." 

"  So  they  did  in  the  whaler." 
"  But  sometimes  they  water  the  grog  for  us  in 
our  ship." 

"In  the  whaler  they  gave  us  no  grog  at  all." 
"  No  grog,   eb  !     Oh,  d n  my  eyes  !    then 


160'      FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  whaler  was  the  worse  vessel  of  the  two.     Ship, 
by  all  means,  ship." 

By  this  time  we  had  arrived  at  the  ship,  and  on 
passing  over  the  side,  the  midshipman  pointed  out 
an  officer  walking  on  the  quarter-deck,  who  he  said 
was  the  first  lieutenant,  and  did  all  the  shipping. 
Thnt  officer,  soon  afterwards  appearing  in  the  lar- 
board gangway,  near  where  I  was  standing,  I 
immediately  addressed  myself  to  him  on  the  object 
of  my  visit.  He  was  a  tall,  dark-looking  man, 
and  heard  my  request  with  such  a  gloomy  look  as 
almost  made  me  regret  having  made  it.  After  a 
pause,  however,  he  told  me  that  he  would  ship  me. 
I  Said  that  I  was  particulary  anxious  to  ship  only 
for  the  cruise.  But  he  replied  by  observing  that 
there  was  no  shorter  period  of  service  than  for 
three  years. 

"In  that  case,"  said  I,  "should  I  ship  I  will 
most  lively  be  held  to  general  service,  for  the 
whole  term,  and  be  transferred  to  some  other  vessel 
at  the  terminatioji  of  the  cruise." 

"  Such  a  thing  might  possibly  occur,"  replied 
Mr.  Pope,  "  although  in  general  it  does  not,  as  it 
is  usually  supposed  that  men  shipping  on  foreign 
stations,  ship  under  distress,  and  are  commonly 
discharged  with  the  rest  of  the  ship's  company." 

"My  object  is  to  get  home,"  observed  I,  "and 
if  you  think  there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  being  dis 
charged  on  reaching  the  United  States,  I  will 
enter  the  ship  regardfess  of  the  three  years." 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        Ibi 

"  I  think  you  need  feel  no  uneasiness  as  to  the 
result,"  answered  the  first  lieutenant,  "  as  I  am 
quite  certain  that  such  will  be  the  case." 

At  this  last  remark  I  expressed  my  willingness 
to  ship,  upon  which  I  was  ordered  with  the  master- 
at-arms,  to  the  cockpit,  to  be  examined  by  the 
surgeon.  This  over,  I  was  conducted  to  the  room 
of  the  first  lieutenant,  where  I  subscribed  my  name 
to  the  shipping  articles,  and  received  my  station. 
I  was  entered  on  the  station  bills,  No.  307,  lar- 
board watch,  mizzen  top,  gun  No.  18,  mess  No.  22. 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  I  had  now  got 
into  a  new  theatre,  in  which  all  the  scenes  of 
action  appeared  so  odd  and  strange  to  me  that  it 
took  me  sometime  to  become  accustomed  to  the 
duties  of  my  station.  I  spared  no  pains,  however, 
in  familiarizing  myself  with  the  ship  and  its  rules, 
so  that  after  a  few  days  of  careful  observation  in 
going  through  the  routine  of  discipline,  I  became 
quite  free  and  easy.  But  still,  for  a  few  weeks 
the  time  wore  heavily  away.  Though  in  a  flag 
ship,  with  a  crew  of  some  five  hundred  men,  I  felt 
quite  lonely,  as  all  around  me  were  strangers ;  and 
it  was  not  until  I  had  selected  some  associates 
from  among  the  great  number  of  strange  faces, 
that  I  became  completely  reconciled  to  my  new 
mode  of  life. 

About  five  days  after  my  first  appearance  on 
board,  all   hands  were   called  to  witness  punish- 
ment.    This  was   n    new   feature   to   me,  who  had 
14* 


162       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MASTV 

never  yet  beheld  a  man  flogged  in  regular  ship- 
shape style.  As  soon  as  the  call  had  sounded 
along  the  decks,  the  master-at-arms,  proceeding  to 
the  forecastle  where  several  men  were  in  confine- 
ment, knocked  off  their  irons,  and  led  them  to  the 
mainmast.  All  the  ship's  company,  in  the  mean- 
time, had  gathered  into  the  gangways  and  on  the 
booms,  while  the  officers,  armed  with  cutlasses  and 
swords,  occupied  the  starboard  side  of  the  quarter- 
deck. I  procured  a  station  as  near  as  practicable 
to  the  mainmast,  in  order  to  hear  and  see  all  that 
passed.  As  soon  as  the  commodore  appeared,  all 
the  officers  took  off  their  caps.  The  commodore, 
having  the  offences  of  each  man  written  on  a  piece 
of  paper,  commenced  reading,  them  over;  and 
calling  up  the  prisoners  one  by  one,  inquired  of 
them  if  they  were  guilty  or  not  guilty  of  the 
charges  alleged  against  them. 
.  "  Guilty,"  answered  prisoner  number  one. 

"Well,"  proceeded  the  commodore,  "it  is  not 
my  desire  to  have  you  punished ;  but  as  the  law 
authorizes  its  infliction,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  see 
it  enforced.  Do  you  not  hear  the  articles  of  war 
read  every  month  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  do." 

"  And  do  they  not  say  that  drunkenness  shall 
"be  punished  by  twelve  lashes  with  the  cat-o'-nine- 
tails, at  the  discretion  of  the  commanding  officer  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  they  do." 

"  And  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  law  and  its 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       163 

penalty,  why  will  you  still  presist  in  getting 
drunk?" 

"I  don't  know,  sir;  its  a  bad  habit  I've  got 
into,  and  can't  help  it." 

"  Strip  !  strip !"  said  the  commodore,  hastily, 
with  a  severe  look. 

The  prisoner  now  bared  his  back  and  walking 
up  to  the  bulwarks,  took  his  stand  on  a  grating, 
to  which  his  feet  were  tied  by  the  quarter-master. 
Two  heavy  shot  boxes  were  then  placed  on  the 
grating  to  keep  it  from  being  raised  up  by  his 
struggles.  His  hands  were  next  tied  to  the  ham- 
mock nettings,  as  high  as  the  arms  would  permit, 
after  which  the  quarter-master  withdrew.  The 
commodore  then  nodded  to  the  boatswain's  mate, 
who  stepped  forward,  and  laying  aside  his  hat, 
picked  up  the  green  handled  cats.  After  drawing 
his  fingers  through  the  lashes  so  as  to  clear  them 
of  all  kinks  and  tangles,  and  guaging  his  distance 
by  reaching  out  his  arm  towards  the  prisoner,  he 
suddenly  threw  his  right  foot  back,  and  drew  a 
stroke  across  the  bare  body  of  the  prisoner,  that 
left  nine  purple  streaks  reaching  from  shoulder  to 
shoulder.  This  was  followed  up  by  eleven  more, 
the  master-at-arms  counting  aloud  at  each  blow. 
At  number  twelve,  the  commodore  cried,  "  stop," 
when  the  whipping  was  suspended,  the  prisoner's 
hands  and  feet  released,  and  himself  ordered  for- 
ward to  his  duty.  The  next  offender  was  then 
called  up,  who  underwent  a  similar  punishment; 


164       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

and  then  the  third,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the 
chapter;  and  what  was  most  remarkable  to  me, 
they  all  seemed  to  plead  guilty  to  the  charges. 
As  soon  as  the  punishment  was  over,  all  hands 
were  piped  down. 

I  must  confess  that  this  scene  awakened  a  series 
of  impressions  in  my  mind  that  it  would  be  impos- 
sible for  me  to  define.  I  felt  deeply  agitated 
during  the  whole  proceedings  ;  and  it  was  not 
until  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  hours,  that  my 
nerves  regained  their  wonted  calmness.  A  few 
repetitions  of  these  naval  exercises,  however,  cured 
me  so  effectually  of  these  tremors,  that  after  a  few 
months'  residence  on  board,  I  could  witness  a  pun- 
ishment with  the  stoicism  of  an  American  Indian. 

The  Independence  had  been  lying  in  the  harbor 
of  Rio  Janeiro,  denuded  of  her  sails,  for  sometime 
before  I  joined  her,  and  she  continued  at  her 
moorings  for  many  weeks  after,  before  any  move- 
ment was  made  towards  going  to  sea.  During  this 
period  nothing  worthy  of  remark  occurred  on 
board  to  'mar  the  general  good  will  and  harmony 
that  prevailed  among  the  crew ;  and  I  became  so 
•well  satisfied  with  my  situation,  that  I  would 
scarcely  have  exchanged  it  for  any  other  mode  of 
life. 

Sometime  in  April,  1839,  three  months  after 
my  enlistment,  we  bent  our  sails,  weighed  our  an- 
chors, and  put  out  to  sea.  Our  place  of  destination 
was  Montevideo,  on  the  Rio  La  Plata,  where  we 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       165 

Arrived  after  a  voyage  of  ten  days.  The  sloop  Fair- 
field  and  brig  Dolphin,  had  preceded  us  to  the 
La  Plata,  and  were  then  both  at  Buenos  Ayres, 
while  our  anchor  was  cast  at  Montevideo.  While 
at  this  place  an  amusing  incident  took  place  on 
board  our  ship,  the  particulars  of  which  related  to 
an  English  sailor,  who  had  shipped  in  the  Indepen- 
dence some  months  before. 

It  appeared  that  this  man  had  previously  been 
enlisted  in  an  English  sloop  of  war  called  the  Elec- 
tra,  from  which  he  had  deserted  on  the  coast  of 
Brazil.  As  none,  only  such  as  claim  to  be  citizens, 
are  ever  received  into  the  American  navy,  he  had 
as  a  matter  of  course  represented  himself  as  a  real 
native  to  Commodore  Nicholson.  But  things  be- 
ing, somehow,  not  altogether  to  his  liking  in  the 
Yankee  navy,  he  became  dissatisfied,  and  grew  so 
obstreperous  that  the  commodore,  to  acquaint  him 
a  little  with  Yankee  tricks,  tickled  him  up  with  the 
cat-o'-nine-tails.  This  sat  so  ill  on  the  back  of  the 
English  recruit,  that  he  swore  he  would  leave  the 
ship  ;  and  the  Electra  happening  to  be  there  in 
the  port  of  Montevideo,  he  contrived  to  get  to 
some  of  her  officers  a  knowledge  of  his  present 
locality.  The  commodore,  being  informed  of  his 
movements,  gave  him  another  dozen  with  the  cats, 
to  remember  the  Yankees  by,  and  then  sent  him 
on  board  the  British  sloop  of  war,  where  he  re- 
ceived a  few  dozens  more  in  welcome  of  his  return. 

During  our  sojourn  at  Montevideo,  the  French 


166       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

fleet  formed  a  line  of  blockade  on  the  Rio  La 
Plata,  in  consequence  of  which  none  but  vessels 
of  war  were  permitted  to  pass  up  the  river.  The 
Fairfield  and  Dolphin  had  proceeded  to  the  port 
of  Buenos  Ajres  for  the  purpose  of  rendering 
protection  to  such  American  citizens  as  were  suf- 
fering from  the  effects  of  the  war.  All  commercial 
business  had  in  a  measure  ceased,  and  the  unsettled 
state  of  the  Colonies  rendered  the  situation  of  many 
of  the  inhabitants  somewhat  precarious.  Many 
mechanics,  sought  employment  elsewhere,  and  such 
as  conveniently  could,  had  recourse  to  the  sea. 
About  a  dozen  or  more  of  all  nations,  but  who 
nevertheless  represented  themselves  as  American 
citizens,  took  refuge  on  board  the  Dolphin,  and 
offered  to  ship  in  her.  But  that  vessel,  being  des- 
tined for  home  at  an  early  day,  her  captain,  Mr. 
A.  S.  McKenzie,  brought  them  down  to  Monte- 
video to  try  their  luck  in  the  Independence.  They 
were  immediately  transferred  to  our  ship,  where 
they  remained  two  days  before  an  examination  was 
held  in  respect  to  their  citizenship.  Some  of  them 
had  never  been  in  the  United  States,  but  still  all 
vrere  strenuous  in  declaring  themselves  full-blooded 
Yankees.  One  of  them  in  particular,  an  Irishman 
fresh  from  the  sod,  was  very  anxious  to  learn  how 
he  should  comport  himself  in  order  to  pass  for  an 
American,  and  took  a  number  of  lessons  on  the 
subject  from  some  of  his  countrymen  in  the  ship, 
prior  to  being  questioned  by  the  first  lieutenant. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       167 

At  length  the  time  came  for  them  to  ship.  Mr. 
Pope  had  them  called  aft,  one  by  one,  and  several 
were  the  laughable  incidents  and  mistakes  that 
occurred,  until  finally  Mr.  Patrick  McShane  was 
called  up.  Patrick  made  his  debut  on  the  quarter- 
deck with  a  quite  well  assumed  dignity  ;  but  when 
the  first  lieutenant  fixed  his  dark  countenance 
keenly  upon  him,  he  began  to  tremble,  and  clutched 
his  poor  old  hat  so  tightly,  that  the  crown  was  in 
imminent  danger  of  collapsing  with  the  pressure. 

"  Well,  my  lad,  what  is  your  name  ?"  said  the 
first  lieutenant,  with  a  smile  at  the  frightened  looks 
of  the  would-be  American. 

"  Patrick  McShane,  yer  honor,"  answered  Pat, 
giving  his  old  hat  a  spasmodic  twist. 

"  Patrick  McShane  ?  You  must  then  be  an  Irish- 
man, Patrick." 

"  Divil  a  dhrap  of  it,  yer  honor ;  I'm  a  hearts- 
blooded  American." 

"  What  part  of  America  were  you  born  in,  Pat- 
rick?" proceeded  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  In  Philadelphy  it  was  where  I've  a  sisther 
living  till  this  very  day,  and  sorry  I  am  for  the 
hour  I  ever  left  it." 

"  Do  you  know  what  State  Philadelphia  is  in  ?" 

"  Is  it  the  State  it's  in,  yer  honor  manes  ?"  said 
Pat,  scratching  his  head,  and  trembling  from  head 
to  foot  for  his  citizenship. 

«*  That's  just  what  I  mean,  Patrick.  If  you  were 
born  in  Philadelphia,  you  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the 


168       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

State  it  is  situated  in.  How  long  did  you  live  in 
Philadelphia  ?" 

"  Faith  an'  was'nt  I  born  there,  and  lived  in  the 
same  place  from  a  wee  boy  up  ?" 

"  And  cannot  tell  what  State  it  is  in  ?" 

"  Yis,  yis,  yer  honor !  its  just  afther  popping 
into  my  mind.  Isn't  it  in  what  ye's  call  Pennsyl- 
vany  ?" 

"  That's  it,  Patrick  !"  exclaimed  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, laughing.  "  You  must  be  an  American,  I 
perceive ;  but  I  shall  have  to  test  your  geography 
a  little  further.  Is  Philadelphia  a  large  or  a  small 
city  ?" 

"  A  large  city  it  is,  wid  beautiful  strates  crossing 
each  other,  for  all  the  world  jest  like  the  strakes 
of  a  chess-board." 

"Very  well,"  said  the  lieutenant.  "Now  tell 
us  what  rivers  are  near  Philadelphia  ?" 

"  Sure  an'  isn't  there  a  large  river  ye's  call  the 
Schuylkill  ?" 

"  Yes,  but  \vhich  side  of  the  city  is  it  on  ?" 

"  Isn't  it  on  the  north  side,  yer  honor  ?" 

"  I  ask  you  which  side  it  is  on  ?  But  I  see  you 
are  a  little  out  in  your  reckoning,  Patrick.  Are 
there  any  other  rivers  beside  the  Schuylkill  ?" 

"  Och,  sure  an'  there  must  be.  Isn't  it  another 
large  river  ye's  afther  spakin'  of?" 

"  Very  likely,  Patrick ;  but  what  is  the  name 
of  it  ?" 

"Doesn't  it  run  close  by  the  town?"  continued 
Pat,  considerably  perplexed. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        169 

"  All  very  likely,  Patrick ;  but  what  is  the  name 
of  it?" 

"Yer  honor  axes  the  name  of  it?" 

"  I  do  ;  what  do  you  call  the  river  ?" 

Patrick  M'Shane  scratched  his  head,  and  rolled 
his  eyes  sideways,  like  a  rabbit,  at  his  more  suc- 
cessful companions  in  the  larboard  gangway.  But 
no  one  appeared  disposed  to  intercede  for  him,  and 
the  first  lieutenant  stood  awaiting  his  answer. 
Finding  his  citizenship  sinking  rapidly  in  a  name- 
less river,  he  thought  it  best,  if  possible,  to  capitu- 
late on  honorable  terms. 

"  Och !  could'nt  your  honor  take  me  aboard, 
barrin'  the  name  of  the  river  ?"  exclaimed  her  with 
a  most  strangely  contorting  countenance. 

"  I  cannot,  Patrick ;  the  law  excludes  all  but 
Americans." 

"  Och  !  murther  and  turf !  that  I  should  forget 
the  name  of  that  river — the  very  wather  on  which 
I  was  bred,  and  fished  in  more  nor  a  thousand 
times  !  By  the  wars  !  yer  honor,  but  that  Spanish 
powther,  tother  day,  must  have  driv  my  senses  till 
the  very  divil,  or  ye's  would'nt  find  me  botherin' 
so.  Is'nt  it  the  Jarsey  river  yer  honor  manes  ?" 

"  There's  no  such  river  in  Pennsylvania,"  said 
the  first  lieutenant  laughing.  "  The  river  I  have 
reference  too,  is  called  the  Delaware." 

"  Divil-maware  !  Och  !  divil  take  me,  if  that 
is'nt  the  very  same  name  ye's  have  all  the  while 
been  botherin'  me  to  think  of!  Divil-raaware  ! 
16 


170       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

och,  honey  !  but  I  shall  he  sure  to  keep  it  in  my 
head  now." 

"  It  does  not  matter  much,  Patrick,  whether  you 
do  or  not,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant.  "I  per- 
ceive you  cannot  pass  for  an  American,  and  I  shall, 
consequently,  have  to  decline  shipping  you." 

"Your  honor  wont  ship  me  thin?" 

"  No,  Patrick." 

"  Lord  !  Lord  !  an'  may  I  ax  the  reason  why  ?" 

"Because,  you  are  not  an  American." 

"By  the  powers !  but  wont  a  man's  own  country 
receive  him  into  its  sarvice  ?" 

"  Your  tongue,  and  appearance,  both  prove  you 
a  foreigner." 

"  By  the  wars,  thin !  my  tongue,  an'  looks,  both 
prove  a  lie,  if  they  say  I  am  not  an  American  !" 

The  first  lieutenant  walked  away,  while  a  general 
laugh  arose  among  the  seamen  in  the  gangway. 

A  boat  was  sent  ashore  in  the  evening,  with  Pat- 
rick and  two  of  his  fellow  countrymen  as  passen- 
gers, who  were  landed  at  Montevideo,  after  which 
I  never  saw  anything  more  of  them.  Those  who 
were  able  to  sustain  their  citizenship,  were  received 
on  board,  and  became  members  of  the  crew. 

These  men  were  shipped  under  circumstances 
somewhat  similar  to  my  own.  All  expected  to  be 
discharged  on  the  return  of  the  ship  to  the  United 
States,  and  some  of  them  had,  in  fact,  received 
direct  promises  to  that  effect  from  the  commodore 
and  other  officers. 


PIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       171 

In  a  few  weeks  we  left  the  harbor  of  Monte- 
video and  returned  to  Rio,  where  we  again  lay  for 
some  length  of  time,  and  where  an  occurrence  took 
place  on  board  which  may  not  be  undeserving  a 
passing  notice. 

The  ship  Independence,  under  the  command  of 
Commander  John  B.  Nicholson,  sailed  from  Boston 
harbor  for  Cronstadt,  in  May  1837,  with  Mr/ 
George  M.  Dallas  on  board,  as  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  the  court  of  Russia.  On  her  way 
thither,  the  vessel  touched  at  the  harbor  of  Ports- 
mouth, in  England.  Now  whether  it  was  that  the 
treatment  on  board  was  too  severe,  or  whether  it  was 
that  the  crew  partook  of  so  large  a  sprinkling  of 
British  seamen  as  to  cause  desertion  it  is  difficult  to 
say,  but  from  some  cause  or  other,  it  is  certain,  that 
a  large  number  of  those  men  who  were  permitted 
to  set  their  feet  on  English  soil,  suddenly  took 
their  departure  for  parts  unknown.  The  ship,  in 
consequence,  became  short  of  hands  ;  and  the  com- 
modore on  reaching  Copenhagen,  either  with,  or 
without  the  consent  of  his  own  government,  thought 
proper  to  replace  the  deficiency  by  shipping  twelve 
Danish  sailors.  These  men  were  promised  their 
discharge  at  the  end  of  two  years,  within  which  pe- 
riod the  commodore  doubtless  supposed  the  cruise 
would  be  terminated.  But  such,  however,  hap- 
pened not  to  be  the  case.  Their  term  of  service 
had  now  expired,  and  what  was  to  be  done  ?  The 
commodore  desired  them  to  continue  service  until 


172        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MABT. 

the  ship  proceeded  to  the  United  States  ;  but  this 
they  from  day  to  day  hesitated  to  do,  and  finally 
denied  duty  altogether.  The  commodore  remon- 
strated with  them,  and  endeavored  to  reason  them 
into  obedience,  but  they  remained  refractory  and 
stubborn,  and  for  a  period  of  four  days  kept  "  back- 
ing and  filling"  about  the  decks  like  a  drove  of 
baulky  mules.  They  would  be  cajoled  by  no  Yan- 
kee commander,  they  said — they  were  the  liege 
subjects  of  his  Danish  Majesty,  who  expected  their 
return,  and  return  they  would.  An  expedient  was 
at  length  resorted  to,  for  the  purpose  of  reconciling 
the  misunderstanding.  The  commodore  invited  on 
board  the  Danish  minister,  to  the  court  of  Brazil, 
who,  on  being  made  acquainted  with  the  circum- 
stances, undertook  to  accommodate  matters.  The 
men  were  called  aft  on  the  quarter  deck,  when  they 
were  introduced  to  his  Danish  Majesty's  represen- 
tative, who  at  once  opened  to  them  the  burden  of 
his  mission.  He  extolled  their  loyalty,  praised 
their  patriotism,  flattered  their  vanity  by  frequent 
allusions  to  the  ardent  manner  in  which,  he  said, 
the  American  commodore  had  spoken  in  praise  of 
their  courage,  obedience,  promptness  and  bravery ; 
and  after  spinning  out  a  speech  some  twenty  min- 
utes in  length,  in  which  he  advised  them  to  continue 
faithful  to  the  American  service  until  the  vessel 
returned  to  the  United  States,  wound  up  by  inform- 
ing them,  that  he  would  assume  the  responsibility 
of  their  absence  from  their  sovereign's  dominions. 


FFVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        173 

The  harangue  proved  effective.  The  men  returned 
to  their  duty;  while  the  skilful  diplomatist,  dined 
with  the  Yankee  Commodore,  and  cracked  a  bottle 
of  old  Madeira  wine  to  the  success  of  the  negotia- 
tion. Is  it  not  a  little  humiliating  to  an  honest 
American  mind,  to  witness  a  foreign  ambassador 
thus  called  into  the  service,  to  aid  the  United  States 
government  in  maintaining  subordination  in  their 
own  navy  ? 

Another  month  passed  away,  during  which  the 
commodore  lived  in  daily  expectation  of  a  recall, 
but,  unfortunately,  no  such  happy  order  arrived. 
Things  also  began  to  assume  a  gloomy  aspect  on 
the  La  Plata,  which  made  it  necessary  for  the  squa- 
dron to  return  thither.  Shortly  after  our  reappear- 
ance at  Montevideo,  the  term  of  service  of  several 
of  the  ship's  company  expired.  These  men  re- 
quested to  be  sent  home.  But  the  commodore, 
perceiving  that  the  request,  if  complied  with,  must 
inevitably  render  his  crew  inefficient,  refused  to 
discharge  them.  The  men,  on  failure  of  being  dis- 
missed, began  to  murmur,  and  refused  further  duty. 
They  were  threatened  the  lash,  but,  like  the  Danes, 
they  still  remained  refractory.  They  were  next 
placed  in  confinement,  but  with  little,  or  no  avail ; 
for  each  week  kept  adding  so  largely  to  the  num- 
ber, that  it  became  plain,  unless  some  other  method 
was  adopted  of  settling  the  difficulty,  two-thirds  of 
the  ship's  company  would  soon  be  in  double  irons. 
A  court  martial  was  next  convened  to  try  one  of 
15* 


174        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  prisoners ;  but  it  could  accomplish  nothing 
aside  from  flogging ;  and  it  appeared  too  unjust,  in 
the  estimation  of  the  court,  to  flog  a  man  for  re- 
fusing to  serve  the  government  for  a  period  longer 
than  that  stipulated  for  in  the  agreement.  Yet  the 
reader  will,  perhaps,  be  scarce  prepared  to  credit 
it,  when  I  tell  him  that  many  of  these  men  were 
actually  flogged  for  this  very  offence.  Ten  dollars 
of  their  own  wages,  together  with  three  days  leave 
of  absence,  were  given  to  such  as  chose  to  re-enter 
for  the  remainder  of  the  ship's  cruise,  and  such  as 
refused  to  comply  with  those  conditions,  and  refused 
to  return  to  duty,  were,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
commodore,  tied  up  and  flogged  with  the  cat-o'-nine- 
tails. Now  let  us  note  the  distinction  in  the  treat- 
ment of  these  two  classes  of  seamen,  the  Americans 
and  the  Danes.  The  Dane  is  talked,  coaxed,  and 
even  treated  with — all  the  eloquence  of  argument 
and  suasion  is  resorted  to,  to  induce  subordination  ; 
while  the  American,  who  had  equally  served  out 
the  full  period  of  his  enlistment,  is  confronted  with 
court  martial,  hand  cuffs,  and  cat-o'-nine-tails.  The 
Dane  is  treated  as  a  civilized  sentient  human  being  ; 
the  American  as  a  hardened  ferocious  savage ;  the 
reason  of  the  former  is  appealed  to,  while  the  ap- 
peal is  made,  with  the  lash,  to  the  back  and  skin 
of  the  latter,  and  that  too  by  his  own  countrymen. 
Surely  ours  may  justly  boast  of  being  a  progressive 
government,  and  one,  which,  if  it  show  any  distinc- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       175 

tion  to  persons,  will  mostly  be  found  casting  it  in 
favor  of  foreigners.* 

After  a  period  of  four  months  spen-t  in  adjusting 
some  difficulties  which  had  originated  from  the 
attempt  of  two  American  merchant  brigs  to  pass 
the  French  line  of  blockade,  we  left  the  harbor 
of  Montevideo,  and  returned  once  more  to  Rio 
Janeiro.  'Here  the  commodore  found  a  dispatch 
from  the  home  government,  containing  the  long 
desired  recall.  This  was  agreeable  news  to  most 
of  the  men  in  the  ship,  although,  to  me,  it  produced 
but  few  pleasant  sensations.  A  rumor  had  crept 
out,  that  those  men  who  had  shipped  in  the  squa- 
dron, during  the  last  two  years,  were  to  be  retained 
to  general  service  until  the  expiration  of.  their  full 
term.  This  caused  me  some  uneasiness.  I  dis- 
liked, exceedingly,  the  idea  of  being  sent  abroad, 
on  a  foreign  station,  after  my  arrival  at  home.  A 
plan  soon  suggested  itself,  by  the  adoption  of  which, 
I  thought  this  disagreeable  event  might  be  avoided. 
The  sloop  Marion  had  lately  arrived  on  the  coast, 
without  her  full  compliment  of  men,  and  I  thought 
of  having  myself  transferred  to  this  ship.  I  con- 
ceived it  preferable  to  endure  the  evils  of  the 
Brazilian  coast,  than  fly  to  others  that  I  knew  not 
of.  With  permission  of  the  first  lieutenant,  I 
suggested  the  subject  to  the  commodore. 

*  Punishment  by  the  lash  is  now  discontinued  in  the 
American  navy. 


176       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"What  do  you  want  to  go  in  the  Marion  for  ?" 
inquired  the  commodore. 

"  Because/'  answered  I,  "  I  may  be  sent  to  some 
other  station,  on  reaching  home — perhaps  to  the 
coast  of  Africa ;  and  I  would  much  rather  stay 
where  I  now  am,  than  go  to  some  less  healthy 
region." 

"  How  do  you  know  you  will  be  sent  out  at  all  ?" 

"I  do  not  know  that  such  will  be  the  case," 
answered  I,  "  But  reports  to  that  effect,  are  circu- 
lating through  the  ship." 

"All  nonsense,"  said  the  commodore,  contempt- 
uously, "Those  men  who  have  shipped  on  this 
station,  shall  every  one  of  them  be  discharged.  I 
have  already  promised  most  of  them  so,  and  they 
shall  not  be  disappointed.  If  you  are  anxious  to 
return  to  your  friends,  stay  in  the  ship,  dont  think 
of  entering  the  Marion." 

"  Well  commodore,"  replied  I,  "  If  you  think 
there  is  a  reasonable  prospect  of  my  being  dis- 
charged with  the  rest  of  the  crew,  I  will  be  guided 
by  your  advice." 

"  Think  !"  exclaimed  he,  "I  know  it !  I  feel  not 
the  least  hesitation  in  staking  my  pledge  upon  the 
result." 

With  such  assurances  what  could  I  do,  otherwise 
than  remain  in  the  ship  ?  I  at  once  abandoned  all 
idea  of  joining  the  Marion,  and,  together  with  the 
rest  of  the  men,  began  to  make  preparations  for 
our  return  to  the  United  States. 


In  which  the  Jour.  Shoemaker  finds  himself  overreached  by  • 
Commodore,  and  seeks  his  revenge  in  a  diplomatic  dispatch  to 
Uucle  Sam. 


IT  is  perhaps  needless  to  consume  the  time  of  the 
reader  in  detailing  the  uninteresting  incidents  of  a 
long  sea  voyage.  It  will  suffice  to  say,  that  we 
weighed  anchor  at  Rio  Janeiro,  sometime  in  Febru- 
ary, 1840,  and  arrived  at  New  York  on  the  first 
day  of  April  following,  without  sustaining  any 
serious  accident,  other,  than  the  loss  of  a  fore  and 
main  topsail  yard,  two  top  gallant  masts,  and  some 
thousand  yards  of  canvass.  On  entering  the  East 
River,  the  crew  became  unmanageable,  and  began 
to  leave  for  the  shore.  The  ship  was  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  shore  boats,  which  were  filled  as 
rapidly  as  the  port-holes  could  disgorge  the  impa- 
tient throng  from  within.  On  arriving  opposite 
to  the  Brooklyn  navy  yard,  it  was  with  extreme 
difficulty  that  a  sufficient  number  of  men  could  be 
collected  together,  to  moor  the  ship.  This  was, 
however,  accomplished  by  the  severe  toil  of  a  few  ; 
and  even  then,  only  temporarily,  as  on  the  follow- 

(177) 


178        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

ing  day  she  -was  again  unmoored,  and  warped  to 
the  wharf  at  the  navy  yard.  Here  we  lay  until 
the  tenth,  when  the  purser  and  commodore,  com- 
menced paying  off  and  discharging  the  men.  The 
business  continued  in  operation  until  the  afternoon 
of  the  thirteenth,  by  which  time  all  were  dismissed, 
except  those  who  had  shipped  on  the  coast  of 
Brazil.  The  purser  then  suddenly  closed  his  books, 
while  the  steward  removed  the  tables,  and  a  sentry 
was  placed  at  the  cabin  door,  to  prevent  the  further 
ingress  of  applicants  for  discharges.  Not  a  word 
was  spoken  by  the  men,  but  every  one  seemed  to 
understand  the  movements  intuitively.  It  was  now 
indeed,  evident,  that  those  who  had  yet  a  long  time 
to  serve,  were  not  to  be  discharged.  The  bare  idea, 
while  it  failed  not  of  convincing  the  most  incredu- 
lous, at  the  same  time  carried  dismay  to  the  heart 
of  every  man.  Some  frowned,  until  their  disap- 
pointment gathered  in  a  purple  hue  about  their 
noses,  while  others  bit  their  lips ;  and  those,  more 
tender  of  heart,  who  had  not  beheld  their  homes 
nor  friends,  for  many  years,  sat  down  and  wept 
outright.  For  my  own  part,  I  took  my  seat  on  a 
shot  box,  with  remarkable  calmness,  and,  with  my 
elbows  resting  on  my  knees,  gave  vent  to  my  vexa- 
tion in  semi-monotonous  strains,  detached  from  the 
tune  of  "Hail  Columbia."  Presently  the  commo- 
dore appeared.  He  smiled  pleasantly,  and  was 
very  polite.  He  began  talking  to  us  in  the  form 
of  a  speech.  He  told  us  he  knew  not  yet  the 


FTVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        179 

wishes  of  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Navy  in 
respect  to  us.  He  had  informed  him  of  the  pro- 
mises which  had  been  made  to  us  in  Brazil,  and  he 
doubted  not,  but  that  in  a  few  days,  an  order  would 
arrive  for  us  to  be  discharged.  In  the  meantime, 
it  became  necessary  for  us  to  repair  to  some  other 
ship,  until  the  result  would  be  known,  and  he  would 
recommend  the  North  Carolina;  Captain  Gallagher, 
he  said,  was  an  excellent  officer,  and  a  gentleman  ; 
Captain  Gallagher  would  treat  us  with  every  mark 
of  kindness  and  liberality.  Captain  Gallagher,  as 
well  as  Commodore  Renshaw,  was,  in  fact,  adding 
his  influence  with  the  Hon.  Secretary  to  have  us 
discharged. 

At  this  juncture  of  the  commodore's  speech, 
Captain  Gallagher  appeared  at  the  cabin  door,  in 
company  with  Mr.  John  Pope,  our  first  lieutenant. 
Captain  Gallagher  smiled,  but  it  was  a  peculiar 
smile,  and  such  a  one  as  no  other  man  but  Captain 
Gallagher  could  make.  Captain  Gallagher  had  for 
forty  years  been  an  officer  in  the  service,  and  his 
countenance  had  worn  that  same  smile  during  that 
whole  period  of  time — no  matter  whether  attending 
a  court-martial,  poring  over  a  punishment  list,  or 
in  witnessing  an  execution,  it  was  always  the  same  ; 
it  had  no  benevolence  in  it,  no  sympathy,  no  can- 
dor ;  it  was  cold  and  meaningless — a  mixture  of 
irony  and  sarcasm ;  an  expression  that  seemed  to 
derive  a  peculiar  zest  from  witnessing  the  dejec- 
tion and  misery  of  those  under  his  command.  But, 


180       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

-  \ 

as  I  said  before,  Captain  Gallagher  smiled,  and 
told  the  commodore  that  it  afforded  him  extreme 
pleasure  to  become  the  commander  of  such  a  brave, 
noble,  and  manly  looking  set  of  men  as  we  were  ; 
that  he  should  consider  himself  very  happy  in  hav- 
ing us  on  board  his  vessel,  and  would  treat  us  just 
exactly  as  if  we  were  his  own  brothers.  At  this 
Mr.  Pope  smiled  too — indeed,  why  should  he  not  ? 
He  doubtless  understood  it,  and  knew  it  was  funny, 
and  so  his  smile  was  a  genuine  one.  He  also 
became  very  bland  and  polite,  and  corroborated  all 
that  his  superiors  had  stated  in  reference  to  our 
discharge,  and  added,  for  our  particular  edification, 
that  he  himself  had  seen  the  letter  written  to  the 
Navy  department  by  Doth  Commodore  Nicholson 
and  Captain  Gallagher,  and  that  he  hesitated  not 
in  expressing  it  as  his  sincere  conviction,  that  in 
less  than  ten  days  we  would  all  be  discharged. 

What  in  general  may  have  been  the  opinion  of 
the  men  in  regard  to  the  statements  of  these  offi- 
cers, I  was  never  able  to  inform  myself,  but  answer- 
ing for  my  individual  self,  I  am  constrained  to  say, 
that  I  believed  them  true,  and  determined  to  await 
the  result.  I  could,  however,  have  wished  a  more 
desirable  commander  than  Captain  Gallagher,  and 
felt  a  little  dread  of  the  North  Carolina ;  but  as  I 
felt  myself  likely  of  enduring  only  a  short  bondage 
on  board  of  her,  I  looked  forward  to  my  debut 
there,  with  a  tolerable  share  of  composure.  Such 
•was,  however,  not  the  case  with  all  the  men.  We 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        1?1 

were  ordered  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  pro- 
ceed on  board  the  North  Carolina  at  eight  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  fourteenth ;  but  when  the 
hour  arrived,  but  bare  twenty-seven,  out  of  a  com- 
pany of  sixty-five,  were  found  to  answer  to  their 
names  on  the  muster-roll,  the  remainder  banng 
deserted  during  the  night. 

.  It  would,  perhaps,  be  a  subject  worthy  the  atten- 
tion of  the  general  government,  as  well  as  of 
worthy  officers  who  were  the  authors 
"  French  leave,"  to  note  precisely  the  numHr  of 
these  thirty-eight  deserters,  that  are  likely  to  enter 
the  navy  a  second  time.  The  government  often 
complain  of  the  difficulties  encountered  in  shipping 
seamen  ;  and  not  unfrequently  are  they  compelled 
to  send  their  ships  to  sea  short  of  hands.  These 
inconveniences,  which  amount  to  evils  of  PO  slight 
magnitude  in  maintaining  the  efficiency  of  a  navy, 
are,  perhaps,  more  the  result  of  their  own  careless 
ness  and  indifference,  than  of  real  scarcity  of  sea- 
men. American  sailors,  as  well  as  citizens,  are 
peculiarly  jealous  of  their  personal  rights ;  and  if 
the  government  refuse  or  neglect  to  redress  the 
wrongs  and  injuries,  wilfully,  and  often  maliciously, 
inflicted  upon  them  by  their  captains  and  command- 
ants, they  have  little  cause  to  murmur  at  any  apa- 
thy or  reluctance  shown  on  the  part  of  humble 
sailors  towards  entering  the  service.  * 

With  those  men  who  had  returned  home  from 
Brazil  in  the  sloop  Fairneld,  Captain  Gallagher" 
16 


182        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

had  better  luck.  Every  man  in  that  ship,  who  had 
over  six  months  to  serve,  was  transferred  on  board 
the  North  Carolina. 

After  I  had  been  about  five  days  on  board  the 
North  Carolina,  though  an  ordinary  seaman,  I  was 
made  a  quarter-master.  I  looked  upon  this  as  quite 
a  rise  in-  the  service,  and  felt  no  slight  tincture  of 
pride  as  I  strutted  about  the  poop-deck  with  a  spy- 
glass under  my  arm.  To  whom  I  was  indebted  for 
this  distinction,  I  was  at  a  loss  to  guess  to  a  cer- 
tainty, but  supposed  it  a  mark  of  Captain  Gallagher's 
brotherly  affection.  As  this  notion  impressed  itself 
upon  me,  I  formed  the  resolution  of  testing  his 
favor  a  little  further.  The  great  city  of  "  Gotham" 
lay  before  me  ;  and  feeling  an  inclination  to  behold 
some  of  the  wonders  it  contained,  I  determined  to 
ask  the  captain  for  two  days'  leave  of  absence  in 
order  to  visit  it.  An  opportunity  presented  itself 
on  the  following  morning.  The  captain  came  on 
deck,  and  as  he  was,  apparently,  in  a  very  good 
humor,  I  sallied  down  the  poop-ladder,  and  touch- 
ing the  rim  of  my  hat,  with  the  most  profound 
respect,  stood  in  an  attitude  soliciting  his  attention. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?"  asked  he,  very  gruffly. 

"  Two  days  leave  of  absence,  sir,"  answered  I. 

"What  for?" 

"I  wish  to  visit  New  York,  sir." 

"  Have  you  any  friends  living  there  ?" 

"No,  sir." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  in  the  ship  ?" 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        183 

"Eleven  days,  sir,"  answered  I. 

"  Only  eleven  days,  arid  asking  leave  of  absence  . 
Why  you  infernal  galley-ranger " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Captain  Gallagher,"  said 
I,  interrupting  him.  "  I  am  one  of  those  men  "who 
came  from  the  Independence,  and  have  been  in  the 
service  fifteen  months." 

"  Ha  !  that  alters  the  case,  indeed,  but  only  to 
make  it  worse.  Want  to  run  two  days  among 
strangers — get  drunk,  and  then  cut  the  service 
altogether,  like  your  thirty-eight  shipmates,  a'nt 
it  so,  you  canvass-covered  lubber  ?" 

"No,  sir.  You  do  me  injustice  in  thinking  so 
harshly  of  me." 

"  Injustice,  eh  !  D — n  me  !  but  I  know  you 
better  than  you  can  begin  to  know  yourself.  Away 
to  your  duty,  and  let  me  hear  no  more  about  leave 
of  absence,  or  I'll  have  you  to  the  gangway,  and 
let  the  cats  do  you  justice  !" 

Withou^  replying  a  single  word,  I  remounted  the 
poop-ladder ;  and,  though  deeply  mortified,  and 
perplexed  at  my  ill-success,  endeavored  to  assume 
a  look  of  the  utmost  unconcern.  The  captain 
resumed  his  walk  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  smiled 
BO  pleasantly,  that  I  thought  my  discomfiture 
afforded  him  the  greatest  possible  delight. 

About  the  time  these  events  were  transpiring  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  York,  a  great  discussion  existed 
between  the  borderers  of  New  Brunswick  and  of 
the  State  of  Maine,  in  consequence  of  the  unset- 


184       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tied  state  of  the  boundary  line.  The  hostile  feeling 
had  communicated  itself  to  the  fishermen  of  both 
countries  ;  and  the  port  of  Halifax,  as  well  as  the 
bay  of  Fundy,  became  the  theatre  of  depredations 
that  demanded  redress.  In  order  to  prevent  simi- 
lar disturbances  in  future,  our  government  deemed 
it  advisable  to  place  an  armed  vessel  on  the  coast 
of  Nova  Scotia,  and  in  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence ;  and  the  sloop  Preble,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Breese,  was  ordered  to  proceed  thither. 
By  order  of  the  Navy  Department,  a  crew  was 
scraped  together  out  of  the  Columbus  at  Boston, 
and  the  North  Carolina  at  New  York,  and  I 
became  one  of  the  chosen  vassals  for  the  expedi- 
tion. Notwithstanding  the  admiration  and  broth- 
erly love  which  Captain  Gallagher  expressed  him- 
self as  feeling  towards  those  noble  fellows  whom  he 
had  drawn  from  the  Independence,  he  managed  so 
to  contrive  it  as  to  have  them  all  drafted  to  the 
Preble.  Early  in  May,  and  before  we  had  been  a 
month  under  his  command,  some  sixty  of  us  were 
shipped  on  board  a  small  schooner,  and  sent  down 
to  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  where  the  Preble 
then  lay.  With  our  departure  from  the  North 
Carolina,  all  hope  of  obtaining  our  discharge  dis- 
appeared. 

On  reaching  Portsmouth,  we  found  those  seamen 
who  had  proceeded  from  Boston  already  on  board 
the  Preble,  and  busily  occupied  in  putting  things  to 
rights.  The  ship,  though  newly  from  the  stocks, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        185 

had  been  very  indifferently  rigged,  and  two  weeks 
were  consequently  spent  in  refitting  her  shrouds, 
stays,  and  other  standing  rigging,  before  she  was 
considered  ready  for  the  sea.  We  then  sailed  to  the 
harbor  of  Portland,  where  we  remained  sometime, 
awaiting  orders  from  Washington.  Near  the  middle 
of  June,  we  moved  in  the  direction  of  the  British 
provinces,  and  after  visiting  St.  John's,  Halifax, 
and  other  places  of  minor  importance,  we  ran  down 
the  coast  to  the  straits  of  Belle  Isle,  and  took  a 
cruise  among  the  ice-bergs.  The  immense  masses 
of  floating  ice,  which  we  almost  hourly  encoun- 
tered, rendered  night  navigation  an  experiment  so 
dangerous  that  our  anchors  were  seldom  at  the 
bows  for  twenty-four  hours  in  succession,  the  cap- 
tain always  making  some  secure  landing  place  by 
nightfall.  The  fishermen,  at  almost  every  port,  or 
rather"  bay,  into  which  we  steered,  beheld  us  with 
alarm.  Many  of  them  thought  that  war  had  been 
declared  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain,  and  at  one  place  the  citizens  actually 
bundled  together  their  effects  and  took  to  the  hills, 
under  the  impression  that  we  had  been  sent  upon 
the  coast  to  destroy  the  English  fisheries.  They 
were,  however,  soon  apprised  to  the  contrary,  upon 
which  they  became  very  friendly,  arid  brought  their 
wives  and  families  to  see  an  American  man-o'-war, 
which  was  regarded  as  a  great  novelty  by  all  the 
inhabitants  along  the  coast. 

In  the  latter  part  of  August,  a  circumstance 
16* 


186        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

occurred  which  induced  the  captain  to  abandon  this 
region  of  fogs,  gales,  and  ice,  and  wend  his  way  to 
a  more  southerly  latitude.  In  attempting  to  pass 
out  of  a  narrow  estuary  of  the  sea,  in  which  we 
had  anchored  during  a  gale  of  wind,  the  ship 
grounded  two  or  three  times  heavily  on  the  bottom 
and  finally  came  to  a  total  stand.  It  was  soon 
ascertained  that  we  were  fast  on  a  reef  of  rocks, 
and  as  the  tide  was  nearly  at  an  ebb,  there  re- 
mained little  prospect  of  getting  off  before  the 
following  day.  All  hands  were  at  once  put  to 
work  in  hoisting  out  the  boats.  The  launch  was 
stowed  full  of  the  ship's  provisions  ;  the  top  and 
top-gallant  masts  were  struck  from  aloft ;  booms 
and  spars  were  thrown  overboard  into  the  bay,  and 
being  rafted  together,  were  left  to  lie  at  anchor ; 
the  water  was  started  from  the  tanks,  and  men 
were  set  to  work  in  pumping  it  from  the  hold.  In 
short,  every  method  that  could  be  thought  of,  to 
lighten  the  ship,  was  speedily  resorted  to.  After 
four  hours'  labor,  the  vessel  appeared  to  ride  more 
freely,  when  two  kedges  and  one  of  the  sheet 
anchors  were  placed  at  proper  distances  from  the 
ship,  and  a  steady  strain  taken  upon  their  cables  at 
the  capstan.  In  less  than  an  hour  after  the  heav- 
ing commenced,  we  were  again  afloat,  and  though 
night  had  already  set  in,  yet  before  the  dawn  of 
the  following  morning,  every  thing  was  replaced 
except  our  water.  On  reaching  the  sea  it  was, 
however,  goon  discovered  that  the  vessel's  bottom 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       187 

had  been  injured,  as  from  one  of  the  swiftest  sail- 
ers in  the  navy,  she  had  become  as  slow  and  cum- 
bersome as  a  Dutch  galiot. 

As  the  foregoing  accident  had  left  ua  but  a 
scanty  supply  of  water  on  board,  the  captain 
shaped  his  course  for  Pictou,  at  which  place  we 
arrived  after  a  voyage  of  a  few  days, -and  immedi- 
ately commenced  taking  in  our  water.  This  duty 
was  allotted  to  the  first  cutter,  which  was  placed  in 
charge  of  two  midshipmen.  The  water  was  ob- 
tained about  a  mile  from  the  ship,  and  had  to  be 
carried  in  buckets  from  the  fountain  to  the  boat,  a 
distance  of  some  ten  rods.  One  of  the  midship- 
men usually  stationed  himself  at  the  boat,  while 
the  other  attended  the  operations  of  the  men  at 
the  fountain. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  three  of  these  men 
from  the  Brazilian  squadron,  who  had  been  so 
egregiously  humbugged  by  Commodore  Nicholson, 
took  it  into  their  heads  to  run  away,  and  fixed  upon 
a  plan  among  the  boat's  crew  to  accomplish  their 
enterprise.  It  was  resolved  that,  on  approaching 
the  shore,  the  three  malcontents  should  pull  the 
bow  oars,  and  before  the  boat  touched  the  beach, 
they  were  to  jump  from  their  seats  into  the  water, 
and  run  for  the  woods,  while  the  rest  of  the  men 
were  to  interlock  their  oars  to  prevent  the  boat 
from  landing.  Should  either  of  the  midshipmen 
attempt  to  follow,  then  were  one  half  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  crew  to  spring  from  the  boat,  and 


188       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

run  ranidly  in  an  opposite  direction,  and  in  caso 
both  followed,  then  were  all  the  men  to  scamper  in 
different  directions,  in  order  to  confuse  them  in 
guch  a  manner  that  they  would  be  at  fault  what  to 
do,  or  whom  to  follow. 

On  the  morning  after  the  scheme  was  concocted, 
the  first  cutter  proceeded  on  shore,  and  it  is  per- 
haps needless  to  say  that  the  project  was  immedi- 
ately put  in  execution.  The  men  took  to  their 
heels  with  a  speed  that  set  at  defiance  the  legs  of 
both  the  middies,  who  started  in  pursuit  of  them. 
As  soon  as  the  boat  was  landed,  three  of  the  other 
men,  who  desired  to  favor  the  escape  of  their 
companions,  commenced  a  ruse  down  the  beach. 
One  of  the  midshipmen,  on  looking  back  and  per- 
ceiving this  movement,  conceived  that  the  whole 
boat's  crew  were  about  fleeing,  and  setting  up  a 
howl,  and  flourishing  his  sword,  he  returned  hastily, 
shouting  at  the  top  of  his  voice  for  the  remaining 
men  to  get  into  the  boat ;  but  without  paying  any 
regard  to  his  orders,  they  proceeded  quietly  to 
filling  the  casks.  Vexed  and  mortified  at  the  idea 
of  his  command  being  dishonored  by  desertion,  the 
worthy  young  gentleman  seated  himself  on  the  gun- 
wale of  the  boat  and  gave  vent  to  his  feelings  in  a 
copious  flood  of  tears.  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
the  men  who  had  -departed  down  the  beach  re- 
turned, and  soon  afterwards  we  were  greeted  with 
the  re-appearance  of  the  midshipman  who  had  given, 
chase  to  the  deserters.  On  our  return  to  the  ship 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       189 

the  circumstance  was  reported  to  the  captain,  who 
offered  a  reward  for  the  apprehension  of  the  desert- 
ers, but  up  to  the  time  of  our  departure  from  the 
port  we  heard  nothing  respecting  them. 

After  a  few  weeks  further  cruising* in  the  vicinity 
of  Cape  Breton,  Halifax,  and  the  Bay  of  Fundy, 
the  captain  conceiving  his  mission  to  have  heen 
accomplished,  proceeded  to  Portland  harbor,  where 
we  arrived  early  in  October,  and  where  we  lay  a 
few  weeks  awaiting  further  orders  from  govern- 
ment. During  this  period  some  notable  occurren- 
ces took  place  on  board  the  ship,  respecting  that 
portion  of  the  crew  which  had  formerly  been 
under  the  command  of  Commodore  Nicholson. 
The  captain,  at  the  commencement  of  the  cruise, 
having  been  made  acquainted  with  the  treatment 
we  had  received  from  our  former  commander, 
promised  to  aid  some  of  the  men  in  procuring 
their  discharges ;  upon  which  a  few  of  the  petty 
officers  procured  letters  to  be  written  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Navy,  and  transmitted  them  to  the 
cabin  for  him  to  approve  and  forward.  Three 
months  had  now  elapsed  since  these  letters  had 
been  prepared,  and  yet,  it  was  discovered,  through 
the  agency  of  the  steward,  that  they  had  never 
been  sent  to  Washington.  Five  more  letters  were 
immediately  presented  by  the  same  applicants, 
but  the  captain  rejected  them  peremptorily,  with 
the  declaration  that  he  would  not  approve  a  letter 
for  the  discharge  of  any  man  in  the  ship.  This 


190         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

declaration  produced  quite  an  excitement  among 
those  from  the  Brazilian  squadron,  who  composed 
by  far,  the  larger  and  abler  part  of  the  ship's 
company.  Murmurs  broke  forth  on  all  sides,  and 
were  not  even  suppressed  in  the  presence  of  the 
officers.  Our  vexation  and  discontent  were  still 
further  augmented  by  the  reception  of  a  letter 
from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in  reference  to 
the  case  of  one  of  our  shipmates.  A  seaman  of 
the  crew,  named  Robert  Long,  had  made  an  appli- 
cation for  his  discharge  through  the  agency  of  his 
brother,  a  *  respectable  citizen  near  Portsmouth. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  however,  declined 
discharging  Robert,  and  as  a  reason  for  doing  so, 
quoted  Commodore  Nicholson's  dispatch  from  New 
York,  wherein  it  was  stated  that  all  those  men  who 
had  been  transferred  from  the  Brazilian  squadron 
to  the  North  Carolina,  had  shipped  "unqualifiedly' 
for  general  service.  This  letter  having  been  con- 
veyed to  the  Preble  by  the  correspondent,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Robert  and  the  rest  of  us,  who  had 
now  incontestable  evidence  that  Commodore  Nich- 
olson had  told  us  a  wilful  and  black-hearted  lie. 
He  had  advised  me  not  to  join  the  Marion  at  Rio, 
if  I  wished  my  discharge.  He  also  asserted  to  us 
collectively,  in  his  quarter-deck  speech,  at  Brook- 
lyn navy  yard,  that  he  was  using  his  utmost  exer- 
tions to  procure  our  discharge ;  that  he,  in  con- 
junction with  Commodore  Renshaw,  had  written 
to  Washington  for  that  purpose ;  and  that  Captain 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         191 

Gallagher  was  also  adding  his  influence  in  our 
behalf;  all  of  which  assertions  were  corroborated 
and  sustained  by  Mr.  John  Pope,  who  added  his 
assurance  of  the  verity  of  these  statements,  and 
even  told  us  that  he  had  witnessed  the  letters 
alluded  to.  Now  let  the  reader  see  how  the  decla- 
rations of  these  officers  were  sustained  by  facts. 
Five  days  after  they  were  made,  a  gang  of  men, 
who  were  sent  on  board  the  sloop  Fairfield  for  the 
pnlfPse  of  clearing  up  her  decks  and  rigging  her, 
picked  up  from  among  the  loose  papers  scattered 
over  her  cabin  floor,  the  following  significant  note: 

"  Com.  Renshaw's  compliments  to 

"  Captain  Boerman : 

Sir: — You  will  please  send  me  a  list  of  all  the 
men's  names  who  have  over  six  months  to  serve, 
that  they  may  be  retained  to  general  service. 
"  Respectfully, 

"  RENSHAW. 
"  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard,  April  4th,  1840." 

There  it  is — the  note  explains  itself.  Such  an 
one  had,  doubtless,  been  sent  to  Commodore  Nich- 
olson, who  was  Renshaw's  inferior  in  rank,  and 
who  must  thus  have  known  that  we  were  to  be 
retained  before  he  made  his  speech,  but  who,  nev- 
ertheless, told  us  that  he  was  doing  all  he  could 
to  have  us  discharged,  while  at  the  same  time 
he  was  writing  all  he  could  to  the  department 


192       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

to  prevent  it;  and,  moreover,  he  persuaded  us 
that  Commodore  Renshaw  was  adding  his  efforts 
in  our  favor  at  the  very  moment  when  he  was 
sending  abroad  his  orders  commanding  our  de- 
tention. Could  it  be  possible  for  men,  suscep- 
tible of  passions  and  feelings,  to  remain  content 
under  the  consciousness  of  such  treatment  ?  I 
think  not.  Its  grossness  would  have  kindled  up 
the  resentment  of  men  accustomed  to  the  most 
abject  servility.  As  already  stated,  the  men  b^|an 
to  murmur,  and  the  gloomy  scowl  that  gathered  on 
the  countenances  of  many,  together  with  the  reluc- 
tant and  sullen  manner  in  which  they  obeyed  the 
orders  of  the  officers,  made  it  evident  that  things 
were  assuming  a  somewhat  serious  shape.  At  this 
stage  of  our  troubles  a  plan  suggested  itself  to  me 
by  which  I  thought  the  spirit  of  mutiny  which  was 
apparently  laboring  with  the  crew,  might  for  a 
while  be  smothered.  This  was  nothing  else  than 
to  write  a  joint  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
and  send  it  to  the  department  without  the  know- 
ledge of  the  captain.  In  pursuance  of  this  project 
a  meeting  was  called  on  the  berth  deck,  at  which 
all  hands  expressed  their  approbation  of  the  plan, 
and  unanimously  appointed  me  as  the  person  to 
carry  it  into  effect.  I  immediately  proceeded  to 
the  task,  and  two  hours  afterwards,  re-assembling 
the  men  under  the  top  gallant  forecastle,  read  to 
them  the  following  letter : 


FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        i98 

U.  S.  Ship  Preble, 

Portland  Harbor,  October  21st,  1840. 
To  the  Hon.  J.  K.  Paulding,  Sec.  U.  S.  Navy  : 

Sir  : — We,  who  were  in  April  last,  transferred 
from  the  United  States  ships  Independence  and 
Fairfield,  to  the  United  State's  ship  Preble,  are 
well  aware  that  the  regulations  of  the  service 
demand  that  all  persons  wishing  their  discharge 
from  the  service  shall  address  themselves  to  the 
department,  by  letter,  through  the  approval  of  the 
commanders  on  board  whose  vessels  the  applicants 
may  chance  to  be  shipped  ;  but  as  we  consider  our 
case  a  peculiar  one,  and  as  we  are  well  convinced 
that  the  circumstances  attending  our  enlistment 
have  never  been  fully  laid  before  the  department, 
we  have  in  the  present  instances,  deviated  from  a 
strict  adherence  to  the  established  rule,  for  the 
purpose  of  explaining  our  real  condition,  and  of 
exculpating  ourselves  from  a  charge  of  falsehood 
which  has  recently  been  alleged  against  us. 

Commodore  J.  B.  Nicholson,  if  we  understand 
it  rightly,  has  inadvertently  stated  that  "  all  those 
men  who  entered  his  squadron  under  promise  of  a 
discharge,  were  so  disposed  of."  We  say  he  has 
inadvertently  stated  this,  because  we  would  not 
willingly  believe  a  man  of  his  respectability  and 
standing  in  society,  capable  of  asserting  a  wilful 
falsehood,  for  falsehood  there  must  be  somewhere, 
either  in  the  report  of  Commodore  J.  B.  Nicholson, 
17 


194       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

or  in  the  numberless  letters  with  which  the  Depart- 
ment has  been  troubled  during  the  last  six  months. 
How  the  commodore's  statement  can  be  reconciled 
with  the  principles  of  truth  and  honor,  may  seem 
somewhat  difficult,  if  we  examine  a  little  into  the 
real  nature  of  our  enlistment. 

Being  all  strangers  in  a  foreign  land,  we  desired 
to  return  to  our  own  country,  and  became  applicants 
to  the  respective  commanders  in  the  squadron  for 
permission  to  join  their  vessels  until  their  return 
to  the  United  States.  They  told  us  it  was  out  of 
their  power  to  enter  any  man  for  a  shorter  period 
than  three  years.  But  finding  that  we  would 
rather  undergo'  the  dangers  that  beset  us  in  a  for- 
eign land,  than  voluntarily  subscribe  our  names  to 
•a  three  years'  enlistment,  they" saw  fit  to  compro- 
mise the  matter  by  asserting  that  it  was  customary 
to  discharge  all  seamen  shipping  in  naval  vessels 
on  foreign  stations,  and  that  if  we  would  subscribe 
our  names  to  the  articles,  they  would  insure  us  on 
their  word  and  hbnor,  as  officers  and  gentlemen, 
that  every  man  of  us  should  receive  his  discharge 
on  the  return  of  the  vessel  to  the  United  States. 
These,  sir,  are  the  real  circumstances  attending 
our  entrance  into  that  squadron.  Most  of  us  had 
never  been  in  the  service  before,  and  were  conse- 
quently unacquainted  with  its  regulations ;  we 
trusted  with  confidence  in  the  promises  of  Com- 
modore Nicholson  and  his  commanders,  and  sub- 
scribed our  names  to  the  articles,  returned  to 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       195 

America,  and  were  deceived.  Now,  sir,  is  this 
treatment  just,  or  is  it  honorable  ?  We  were  led 
by  the  promises  of  these  men,  to  believe  that  the 
power  of  discharging  us  rested  with  them.  If  it 
did  not,  they  must  have  known  it,  and  should  not 
have  made  them  ;  if  it  did,  it  was  a  serious  wrong 
to  violate  their  word  for  the  mere  purpose  of  de- 
ceiving us. 

On  our  arrival  at  New  York,  last  April,  and 
after  the  majority  of  the  ship's  company  was  dis- 
charged, Commodore  Nicholson  declared  to  us  that 
he  was  perfectly  aware  of  the  promises  he  had 
made  us,  but  that  it  was  the  desire  of  your  hon- 
orable self  to  have  us  detained.  He  also  stated 
that  he,  in  conjunction  with  Commodore  Renshaw, 
had  written  to  the  Department,  earnestly  pressing 
our  discharges,  and  that  he  would  know  what  course 
to  pursue  in  respect  to  us,  as  soon  as  he  received 
an  answer  from  Washington,  We  have  since  dis- 
covered that  this  was  but  another  deceptive  meas- 
ure which  he  made  use  of  under  conviction  of 
his  promises,  to  keep  us  from  murmuring  until  such 
time  as  another  vessel  should  be  prepared  for  our 
reception. 

Since  the  foregoing  events,  we  have  been  on  the 
coast  of  Labrador ;  we  have  undergone  the  two 
extremes  of  heat  and  cold  ;  we  have  been  trans- 
ferred from  the  warm  climates  of  the  sunny  south 
to  the  icy  regions  of  the  north,  and  we  now  wish 
our  discharges,  that  we  may  return  to  our  respec- 


196       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tive  homes,  for  some  of  us  have  been  absent  many 
years.  Yet  how  are  we  to  procure  them  ?  If  we 
address  ourselves  to  the  Department,  our  letters 
pass  unnoticed,  because  they  do  not  come  properly 
attested  ;  if  we  apply  to  our  former  commanders, 
our  complaints  are  rejected  as  falsehoods  ;  and  if 
we  send  a  letter  to  our  captain,  for  his  approval,  it 
is  treated  as  false,  or  suffered  to  lie  In  the  cabin 
neglected,  and  never  reaches  its  place  of  destina- 
tion. This,  sir,  is  our  real  condition,  and  this  it  is 
which  has  led  us  to  the  adoption  of  the  present 
method  of  laying  it  before  the  Department;  we 
know  that  the  grand  power  of  discharging  us  is 
invested  there,  and  it  now  rests  entirely  with  the 
Hon.  Secretary,  whether  the  earnest  prayers  and 
solicitations  of  -our  friends,  relatives,  sisters,  broth- 
ers, and  parents,  shall  be  gratified  or  not. 
Your  humble  servants,  very  respectfully, 

AND  ALL." 


The  foregoing  letter  was  approved  by  every  man 
in  the  ship  who  had  belonged  to  the  Brazilian 
squadron.  There  was  not  a  single  statement  in  it 
but  could  have  been  sustained  by  the  testimony  of 
every  man  present  at  the  reading.  It  was  imme- 
diately dispatched  to  the  post-office,  while  the  men, 
who  had  now  some  faint  prospect  of  learning  to  a 
certainty  their  ultimate  fate,  calmly  submitted 
themeslves  to  the  result. 


A.  very  short  Chapter,  in  which  the  Jour's  diplomacy  begins  to 
thicken. 

ON  a  pleasant  Sunday  morning,  ten  days  after 
the  dispatch  of  our  letter,  a  packet  of  papers  was 
brought  on  board  the  ship  from  the  Portland  post- 
office.  As  it  was  about  the  time  for  an  answer  to 
our  communication,  all  hands  were  on  tip-toe  of 
expectation  for  some  extraordinary  intelligence. 
Before  the  boatswain  had  piped  to  breakfast,  the 
captain  sent  the  steward  to  request  my  pres- 
ence in  the  cabin.  A  dozen  men  immediately 
pressed  around  me,  all  of  whom  felt  that  the 
crisis  had  now  arrived,  and  began  to  express  regret 
at  having,  as  they  supposed,  brought  me  into  a 
difficulty  which  might  draw  upon  me  the  vengeance 
of  the  captain.  But  vengeance  or  no  vengeance, 
it  was  now  too  late  for  repentance.  Without  wast- 
ing time  in  useless  regrets,  I  assumed  a  bold  face, 
and  marched  directly  into  the  cabin.  The  captain 
and  first  lieutenant  were  seated  at  a  table,  which 
was  covered  with  letters  and  papers.  Both  shoved 
back  their  chairs  at  my  appearance,  and  the  cap- 
tain, addressing  himself  to  me,  asked  me  if  I  were 
no*  a  little  erratic  in  mv  disposition. 

17*  (197) 


198     '  FIVE  YEARS  BKFORE  TUB  MAST. 

"Not  more  so  than  most  people,  I  believe,"  re- 
plied I,  with  a  reverential  bow. 

"  Are  you  the  writer  of  that  letter  ?"  said  he, 
handing  me  the  identical  letter  which  I  had  sent 
to  Washington. 

"  I  am,"  answered  I,  after  glancing  at  the  sig- 
nature. 

"  Are  you  ready  to  endorse  every  charge  con- 
tained in  that  letter  ?"  continued  he  in  a^severe  tone. 

"Perhaps  not  every  charge,  Captain  Breese," 
said  I,  not  wishing  to  assume  too  great  a  responsi- 
bility. "Individually,  I  might  be  unable  to  sus- 
tain all ;  but,  sir,  you  should  recolledt  that  this  let- 
ter is  the  joint  production  of  some  seventy  men,  all 
of  whom,  if  examined,  will  doubtless  sustain  every 
assertion  contained  in  it." 

"You  are  the  author  of  it — the  wording  and 
assertions  are  yours,  and  if  they  are  abusive,  I  hold 
you  responsible  for  the  consequences.  I  know  that 
whatever  you  would  write  they  would  approve. 
Their  illiterate  minds  would  lead  them  to  applaud 
your  letter,  although  they  could  not  comprehend  it. 
Here  are  assertions  that  are  absolutely  false,  and  I 
ask  you  on  what  foundations  you  dared  construct 
them  ?" 

"Which  are  the  objectionable  passages?"  in- 
quired I. 

"You  have  asserted,  when  speaking  of  this  ship, 
that  your  captain  treated  your  complaints  as  false- 
hoods, and  '  suffered  your  letters  to  lie  in  the  cabio 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       199 

neglected,  by  which  means  they  were  never  per- 
mitted to  reach  their  place  of  destination.'  Is  it 
not  so  ?"  added  he  severely,  pointing  his  finger  to 
the  disagreeable  passage. 

"  It  is  so  written,"  answered  I,  with  some  trepi- 
dation. 

"So  written!"  exclaimed  he,  contemptuously; 
"  but  is  it  truly  written  ?  It  is  an  easy  task  for 
m'en  to  write  falsehoods  when  alone  and  in  secret, 
but  not  so 'easy  to  maintain  them  openly.  How 
dared  you  assert  so  bold  a  falsehood,  and  that  too 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  ?" 

'"Sir,"  replied  I,  a  little  nettled  at  the  captain's 
cavalier-like  manner  of  calling  me  a  liar ;  "  were  it 
not  that  the  delicacy  of  my  situation  here  precludes 
me  from  adverting  to  the  acts  of  either  yourself  or 
any  other  officer,  I  could  say  something  in  defence 
of  these  charges.'' 

"If  you  have  anything  to  offer  in  justification  of 
your  conduct,  speak  it  boldly  out,"  said  the  first 
lieutenant. 

"Yes,  speak  out  freely,"  added  the  captain. 
"  We  desire  no  undue  advantage  from  difference  of 
situation." 

Encouraged  by  these  words,  I  ventured  to  ask 
the  captai^  whether  he  had  not  repeatedly  told  the 
men,  that  he  could  scarcely  believe  Commodore 
Nicholson  guilty  of  having  practised  the  deception 
which  they  alleged  he  had ;  and  whether  he  had  not 
permitted  those  letters  to  lie  upwards  of  three 


200        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

months  in  the  cabin,  while  the  men  who  had  writ- 
ten them,  supposed  them  at  Washington,  and  were 
living  the  whole  time  in  hourly  expectation  of  being 
discharged ;  and  also,  whether  he  had  not  rejected 
letters  from  the  master-at-arms,  and  the  captain  of 
the  maintop.  "If  these  things  are  not  so,"  added 
I,  "  the  men  are  in  the  ship,  and  can  answer  for 
themselves." 

The  captain,  pausing  for  a  while,  seemed  at  a 
loss  what  to  answer,  while  the  first  lieutenant,  per- 
ceiving his  confusion,  sought  to  extricate  him  from 
his  dilemma. 

"But  did  Captain  Breese  ever  reject  a  letter  of 
yours  ?"  said  he. 

"  He  never  did,  for  I  never  brought  him  one.  I 
knew  if  I  did,  he  would  reject  it." 

"How  did  you  know  I  would  reject  it?1'  asked 
the  captain. 

"  From  your  own  words,"  replied  I. 

"What  words?"  inquired  the  first  lieutenant. 

"  Why  he  stated  to  three  of  the  petty  officers, 
that  it  was  useless  for  them  to  present  letters  for 
their  discharge,  as  he  was  resolved  not  to  approve 
a  letter  for  the  discharge  of  any  man  in  the  ship ; 
and  surely  this  declaration  included  me  with  the 
rest  of  the  crew.  It  was  this  declaration,  sir, 
which  made  us  resort  to  the  joint  letter.*' 

"Why  did  you  not  bring  your  joint  letter  to  me 
for  approval  ?"  said  the  captain,  dropping  a  little 
of  his  severity. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       201 

"  Because,  you  had  already  declared  you  would 
not  approve  any." 

"  That  declaration  had  reference  to  letters  of 
individuals,  but  not  to  a  joint  letter,  like  this.  I 
should  readiJy  have  placed  my  signature,  excepting 
those  objectionable  sentences  already  noticed." 

"  That,  sir,  we  could  not  know,"  answered  I. 

"Well,"  said  the  captain,  "the  whole  thing* 
amounts  to  this.  The  secretary  of  the  Navy  has 
read  your  letter,  arid  returned  it  to  me  for  informa- 
tion. I  shall  assemble  all  of  you  at  muster,  and 
ascertain  how  many  of  the  crew  have  heard  this 
letter  read,  and  what  degree  of  confidence  is  to  he 
attached  to  your  statement.  If  I  find  that  you 
have  been  skulking  the  matter,  or  that  any  one  indi- 
vidual has  been  left  in  ignorance  of  the  proceedings, 
I  shall  inform  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  it,  and  make 
your  back  pay  the  penalty." 

"  I  am  content  as  to  the  result,  Captain  Breese," 
replied  I,  moving  towards  the  door.  "  What  has 
been  preferred  against  Commodore  Nicholson,  I  am 
well  assured  will  be  maintained  to  the  letter  by 
every  man  in  the  ship  who  came  from  his  squadron ; 
and  as  to  what  has  been  written  in  reference  to 
yourself,  your  own  convictions  will  tell  you  how 
far  the  language  is  consistent  with  the  truth,  and 
you  can  write  to  the  secretary  accordingly,"  and 
bowing  respectfully,  I  hastened  to  the  berth  deck, 
where  breakfast  was  awaiting  me,  and  where  I  was 
instantly  surrounded  by  an  hundred  shipmates, 


202         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

eager  to  learn  the  result  of  my  interview  with  the 
captain. 

Breakfast  over,  and  the  ship  put  in  order  for  the 
day,  all.  hands  began  to  prepare  for  muster.  The 
captain,  in  the  meantime,  had  some  conversation 
witn  an  old  quarter  master  named  Samuel  Haman, 
.who,  though  one  of  our  party,  denied  having  any 
knowledge  of  our  communication.  This  was  imme- 
diately communicated  to  me,  and  though  I  knew 
the  man  to  be  guilty  of  falsehood,  I  was  uncertain 
what  effect  it  might  have  on  the  captain.  At  nine 
o'clock  all  who  had  formerly  belonged  to  the  Bra- 
zilian squadron,  were  called  to  muster  on  the  lar- 
board side  of  the  quarter  deck.  We  were  not  long 
in  presenting  ourselves  aft,  as  all  were  eager  to 
know  what  action  was  going  to  be  taken  with  us. 
The  officers  assembled  round  the  capstan,  while  the 
captain  appeared  from  the  cabin  with  the  letter 
open  in  his  hand.  Haman,  whom  we  now  all  re- 
garded as  a  traitor,  took  his  stand  at  the  head  of 
the  company  nearest  the  officers.  When  the  pur- 
ser's clerk  had  finished  calling  the  roll,  I  was  or- 
dered from  the  ranks  to  the  opposite  side  of 'the 
quarter-deck.  The  captain,  then  holding  the  letter 
out  in  his  hand  that  all  might  see  it,  addressed  him- 
self to  the  company. 

"  The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,"  said  he,  "  has 
received  a  letter  written  by  your  shipmate  there  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  deck  ;  was  it  with  your 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        203 

full  knowledge,  and  at   your  request,  that   that 
letter  was  written  and  sent?" 

"  It  was,"  responded  every  man  in  the  company, 
except  Haman. 

"  Did  you  all  hear  the  letter  read  ?"  proceeded 
the  captain. 

"We  did,"  was  again  the  general  response. 

"  Does  this  resemble  the  letter  which  was  read 
to  you  ?" 

"  It  does." 

"  And  do  you  all  sustain  the  charges  made  in  it 
against  the  conduct  of  Commodore  Nicholson  ?" 

"We  do." 

"  Haman,"  said  the  captain,  turning  towards  the 
quarter-master,  whose  looks  betrayed  a  mixture  of 
timidity  and  shame,  "  how  comes  it  that  your  com- 
rades, who  appear  so  strenuous  in  this  matter, 
should  have  neglected  to  make  you  a  confidant  ?" 

Haman  was  silent  and  confused,  but  the  cap- 
tain's question  was  answered  by  another  of  the 
petty  officers,  who,  stepping  from  the  crowd,  said 
that  Haman  was  aware  of  the  whole  proceedings  ; 
that  when  the  letter  was  first  suggested  he  had 
talked  about  it  with  Haman,  who  approved  the 
plan,  and  who  stood  close  at  his  elbow  when  the 
letter  was  read  under  the  top-gallant  forecastle. 
Haman  made  no  attempt  to  contradict  the  state- 
ment, and  the  withering  looks  of  contempt  which 
the  officers  cast  upon  him,  overwhelmed  him  with 
such  confusion  that  he  sought  to  hide  his  shame  by 


204        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

dodging  behind  the  persons  of  his  shipmates.  The 
captain  appeared  satisfied  with  the  'answers  of  the 
men,  and  after  a  few  brief  words,  in  an  undertone, 
to  the  first  lieutenant,  ordered  them  to  be  dis- 
missed. 

Having  received  orders,  in  our  dispatches  from 
Washington,  to  repair  to  winter  quarters  at  Charles- 
town  navy  yard,  the  captain  gave  orders  for  getting 
under  weigh  from  Portland  the  day  following  the 
preceding  occurrence.  After  a  rapid  run  of  some 
sixteen  hours,  with  a  north-easterly  wind,  we  cast 
anchor  in  Boston  bay  on  the  evening  of  the  fourth 
of  November.  As  the  ship  was  supposed  to  have 
sustained  some  considerable  damage  about  her 
bottom,  while  on  the  rocks  near  Belle  Isle,  prepa- 
rations were  made  for  placing  her  in  dry  dock  at 
the  earliest  practicable  opportunity.  Ten  days 
were,  however,  consumed  before  this  could  be  ac- 
complished. On  examination  of  her  bottom,  it 
was  found  that  about  twelve  feet  of  her  false  keel 
had  been  torn  away,  as  well  as  slight  portions  of 
her  copper ;  and  some  two  weeks  were  consumed 
in  repairing  her  injuries  before  she  was  again  ready 
for  sea. 

The  reader  must  not  suppose,  however,  that  the 
feelings  of  the  crew  during  this  period  of  time,  were 
of  the  most  amiable  character.  After  a  lapse  of 
ten  days  from  our  departure  from  Portland,  a  final 
answer  in  respect  to  our  joint  letter  was  antici- 
pated, but  much  to  our  mortification  and  disap- 


FIVE  \EARS  BEFORE  TIIE  MAST.       205 

pointment  no  such  answer  arrived.  The  crew, 
infatuated  with  the  belief  that  the  captain  had 
received  a  letter  from  government,  but  declined 
making  its  contents  known  to  the»,  became  uneasy 
and  clamorous,  and  even  talked  of  refusing  duty. 
The  captain,  meanwhile,  used  all  reasonable  means 
to  enforce  obedience,  and  to  a  slight  extent  suc- 
ceeded ;  but  still  it  was  plain  to  him,  as  well  as  to 
most  others,  that  subordination  had  in  a  great 
measure  departed  from  the  ship.  Under  these 
circumstances,  and  perhaps  not  wishing  to  use 
coercive  measures,  he  deemed  it  advisable  to  trans- 
fer the  crew  to  the  Columbus,  seventy- four,  then 
lying  in  the  same  harbor.  The  idea  of  going  on 
board  another  ship,  was  particularly  obnoxious  to 
the  men,  as  such  an  event  appeared  again  to  cut 
short  the  prospect  of  obtaining  their  discharge. 
Some  openly  objected  to  going,  but  the  captain 
was  decisive,  and  ordered  them  to  prepare  for 
immediate  departure.  This  was  bringing  things  to 
a  sudden  crisis.  The  men,  hesitating  no  longer 
from  expressing  their  disapprobation,  broke  forth 
into  murmurs  in  all  parts  of  the  ship,  and  not  a  few 
even  made  open  threats  of  violence  in  the  presence 
of  officers.  Seeing  a  crowd  gathered  on  the  fore- 
castle, I  walked  forward  to  see  what  it  portended, 
when  three  of  the  petty  officers  grasped  me  by  the 
hand  and  shoulders,  and  presenting  a  cutlass,  told 
me  to  lead  the  way,  sword  in  hand,  over  the  gang- 


18 


206        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

•way,  and  they  would  all  follow  to  a  man.     For  a 
moment  I  was  completely  astounded 

"  Can  it  be  possible  that  you  are  in  earnest  ?" 
exclaimed  I,  looking  round  on  the  party,  whose 
calm  determination  and  resolute  looks  indicated 
too  plainly  that  they  were  brooding  on  some  des- 
perate project. 

"Men,  men,"  added  I,  ""what  in  the  name  of 
God  would  you  do  ?" 

"We  want   our  liberty,"   said  they;  "and  we 
are   determined  to    have  it.     We    have    tried   all 
-  peaceable  ways  without  success,  and  now  we  will 
try  another  plan." 

"  Yes,"  answered  I ;  "  and  how  will  it  end  ?  In 
chains  and  shackles,  and  finally  at  the  yard-arm 
for  mutiny.  See,  here  lies  the  Columbus,  yonder 
is  the  Constellation,  and  there  is  the  navy  yard, 
containing  the  quarters  of  some  fifty  marines,  all 
well  armed  and  equipped.  Try  your  plan,  and 
how  soon  can  five  hundred  men  be  dispatched  to 
suppress  and  disarm  you  ?  What  then  will  you 
have  gained  ?  or  who  will  then  intercede  with  the 
government  in  your  behalf  ?  Not  Captain  Breese 
nor  Commodore  Downes.  No,  not  even  myself. 
So  long  as  you  are  for  pacific  measures,  I  am  hand 
and  hand  with  you,  but  to  the  devil  with  your  cut- 
lasses and  boarding  pikes.  If  you  are  bound  to 
run  your  necks  into  a  halter,  with  such  instruments, 
you  must  go  it  lone-handed,  for  I  am  determined 
not  to  accompany  you." 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        207 

In  short,  by  briefly  detailing  to  them  the  con- 
sequences of  mutiny,  and  pointing  out  the  utter  fool- 
hardiness  of  their  rash  designs,  I  soon  succeeded  in 
restoring  their  minds  to  a  sense  of  reason.  I  then 
told  them  that  I,  for  one,  had  made  up  ray  mind 
to  go  on  board  the  "Columbus  ;  that  the  prospect 
of  being  discharged  looked  as  favorable  there  as  on 
board  the  Preble  ;  that  an  order  For  our  discharge 
must  necessarily  be  transmitted  to  Commodore 
Downes,  as  he  was  the  oldest  commandant  about 
the  place ;  and  hence  it  mattered  not  to  me  what 
vessel  I  was  placed  in,  so  that  I  remained  within, 
his  command. 

This  kind  of  argument  had  a  favorable  effect  on 
those  with  whom  I  conversed,  who  at  once  became 
reconciled  to  the  transfer.  Others,  as  the  sugges- 
tions were  communicated  to  them,  began  to  change 
their  views  so  hastily,  that  in  a  few  hours  the  whole 
company  appeared  as  eager  to  go  on  board  the  Co- 
lumbus, as  they  had  previously  been  reluctant  to 
do  so. 


In  which  the  adventurer  becomes  a  heathen,  and  after  being  visited 
in  vain  by  a  Boston  missionary,  is  introduced  to  the  cat-o'-nine- 
tails. 

THE  reader  will  by  this  time  perceive,  that  though 
I  had  shipped  in  the  Independence  with  the  sole 
object  of  proceeding  home,  I  had  now  undergone 
my  third  transfer  since  my  entrance  into  that  ship  ; 
and  what  likelihood  there  yet  remained  of  obtain- 
ing my  discharge,  will  be  left  for  the  sequel  alone 
to  disclose.  Yet  I  cannot  say  that  I  was  really 
unhappy  in  the  service.  I  possessed  the  friendship 
and  esteem  of  nearly  all  my  shipmates,  and  if  my 
conduct  had  not  been  exactly  such  as  to  square  with 
the  wishes  of  the  officers,  it  had,  at  least,  been 
marked  with  a  sufficient  manliness  to  command  their 
respect ;  nor  need  I  add,  that  I  felt  a  secret  pride 
in  having  been  able,  in  my  humble  situation,  to 
inflict  a  just  wound  on  the  pride  and  dignity  of  a 
few,  who  thought  their  elevation  so  great  as  to  en- 
able them  to  press  down  the  poor  worm  with  impu- 
nity. I  well  knew,  that  though  Commodore  Nich- 
olson, Captain  Breese,  and  Lieutenant  Pope,  might 
hate  the  letter  which  I  had  written,  yet  it  was,  in 
the  main,  the  whole  truth  and  nothing  but  the 
(208) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        209 

truth,  and  placed  them  in  a  position  from  which  it 
was  a  little  difficult  to  make  a  very  honorable  re- 
treat. This,  to  me,  was  a  triumph  which  fully  com- 
pensated for  the  disappointments  and  mortifications 
they  had  caused  me  to  suffer.  I  knew  not,  nor 
cared  not,  what  might  be  the  final  result ;  I  felt  con- 
scious of  having  them  in  a  fix,  and  that  fact  alone, 
furnished  an  ample  supply  of  food  to  sustain  my 
mind  under  all  my  present  difficulties. 

The  Columbus  was  a  school  and  receiving  ship, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Smith,  which  bore  at 
its  mast  head  the  brt>ad  pennant  of  Commodore 
Downes.  About  four  hundred  men,  and  some  two 
hundred  apprentice  boys  composed  her  crew.  The 
Preble's  men  numbered  near  an  hundred  and  fifty, 
which  was  something  of  an  addition  to  the  company 
on  board  ;  but  they  were  kept  in  separate  messes, 
and  were  retained  under  the  command  of  their 
respective  officers.  They  were  also  mustered  apart 
from  the  crew  of  the  Columbus,  and  required  to 
repair  to  daily  Labor  on  board  the  Preble.  Besides 
this  working  party,  there  was  also  a  gang  selected 
daily  from  the  crew  of  the  Columbus,  which  was 
sent  on  shore  to  work  in  the  Navy  Yard;  and  by 
some  unaccountable  means,  my  name  had  been 
inserted  by  the  clerk,  on  the  list  of  this  gang.  The 
workmen  belonging  to  the  Columbus  were  usually 
called  away  near  half  an  hour  before  those  of  tne 
Preble  ;  and  one  morning  while  I  was  changing  my 
clothes,  the  boatswain  of  the  Columbus,  whose  name 
18* 


210       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

was  Edgar,  came  running  down  on  the  orlop  deck, 
shouting  my  name. 

"  Hillo  !"  cried  I,  "  what's  wanted  ?" 

Without  deigning  to  make  any  answer,  Edgar 
rushed  up  to  me,  and  commenced  pounding  at  me 
with  a  ratan. 

"  Not  so  fast,  Mr.  Edgar ;  you  may  have  got  hold 
of  the  wrong  man,"  said  I,  endeavoring  to  wrench 
the  ratan  from  his  grasp. 

"  You  rascal  !"  cried  he,  foaming  with  rage. 
"  You  are  always  hanging  back  when  there  is  any 
work  to  be  done." 

"All  a  mistake,  sir,"  replied  I,  holding  on  to 
the  ratan  ;  "  don't  you  know  that  I  belong  to  the 
Preble  ?" 

"You're  a  liar!" 

"  You're  a gentleman,  almost ! 

"  Go  on  deck,  d — n  your  eyes  !  and  none  of  your 
insolence!" 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir  !"  exclaimed  I,  darting  away  on 
deck,  followed  close  at  my  heels  by  the  little  boat- 
swain, who  reported  me  to  the  officers  of  the  deck. 
As  I  was  mounting  the  gangway,  the  worthy  lieu- 
tenant called  me  back,  and  demanded  of  me  how  I 
dared  to  disobey  the  orders  of  a  superior  officer.  I 
endeavored  to  explain  by  telling  him  that  I  be- 
longed to  the  Treble's  crew. 

"He  don't,"  interrupted  the  boatswain;  "you 
Bee,  sir,  a  good  many  men  have  got  in  the  habit  of 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       211 

hailing  from  the  Preble,  since  her  crew  is  aboard 
here,  and  by  that  means  skulk  clear  of  duty." 

"Is  the  man  one  of  that  kind?"  inquired  the 
officer  of  the  deck. 

<k  He  is,"  answered  the  boatswain. 

"A  lazy  rascal,  no  doubt — his  countenance 
betrays  it ;  but  the  cats  will  bring  him  to  his  duty. 
What  have  you  to  say  for  yourself?"  added  he  of 
the  epaulets,  turning  towards  me. 

"  Nothing,  sir,"  replied  I.  "  I  perceive  Mr. 
Edgar  is  determined  to  have  it  all  his  own 
way." 

"Insolent!"  exclaimed  the  officer  of  the  deck. 
"  Insolence  to  a  superior  officer,  and  right  in, 
my  presence  too  !  Call  the  inaster-at-arms,  Mr. 
Edgar.  Ho  !  master-at-arms,"  shouted  he,  seeing 
that  officer  walking  in  the  gangway.  "  Here, 
master-at-arms,  take  this  man  forward  and  put 
him  in  double  irons." 

The  master-at-arms  gallanted  me  forward  to  the 
forecastle,  where  my  wrists  and  ancles  were  en- 
cased in  such  weighty  jewels  as  few  delight  to  wear; 
and  placing  me  under  the  care  of  the  sentry,  left 
me  to  my  own  reflections  in  durance  vile. 

There  are  but  few  unpleasant  sensations  con- 
nected with  the  idea  of  irons  on  board  a  man-of- 
war.  There  is  scarcely  a  day  passes  but  dozens 
are  laid  by  the  heels  in  them  for  crimes  of  the 
most  trivial  nature,  and  many  even  wear  them 
day  after  day,  for  no  offence  whatever.  Hence, 


212        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

my  confinement  was  not  stamped  with  any  indelible 
stain  of  disgrace  in  the  estimation  of  naval  men  ; 
and  as  to  a  further  punishment,  I  deemed  it  out  of 
the  question,  for  I  knew  that  my  presence  must  nec- 
essarily be  missed  from  the  Preble,  and  that  the 
approach  of  evening  would  bring  with  it  an  order 
for  my  release.  So  .procuring  myself  a  book  from 
one  of  my  shipmates,  I  stretched  myself  on  the 
deck  to  indulge  in  its  contents,  my  shoulders  rest- 
ing against  a  shot  box,  and  my  legs  thrown  care- 
lessly over  the  chain  cable. 

As  the  day  advanced,  the  ship  was  honored  with 
visitors  from  the  shore,  and  I  observed  among  a 
group  of  ladies,  a  quite  pretty  young  woman  busy- 
ing herself  in  distributing  tracts  and  other  religious 
publications,  among  those  of  the  sailors  with  whom 
she  accidentally  came  in  contact.  As  she  advanced 
'  towards  the  forward  part  of  the  ship,  gazing  right 
and  left  at  the  wonders  with  which  she  was  sur- 
rounded, her  eyes  finally  rested  on  me,  and  halting 
suddenly  with  a  start,  she  paused  as  if  doubting 
whether  there  might  not  be  danger  in  a  nearer 
approach.  I  pretended  to  keep  my  eyes  fixed  on 
the  book,  but  was  in  reality  watching  her  move- 
ments. Presently  she  turned  to  the  officer  who 
accompanied  the  party,  and  in  an  undertone  asked 
for  what  heinous  crime  1  was  fastened  to  the  chain 
cable. 

"I  presume  his  offence  is   not  a  very  seriouf 
one,"    said    the  officer,    smiling   very    graciously. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFOUE  THE  MAST.       213 

"  Discipline  often  imposes  such  punishment  for 
very  trifling  crimes." 

"  But  I  thought  jour  discipline  required  whip- 
ping instead  of  chains  ?"  answered  the  lady,  eyeing 
me  with  a  side  glance. 

"  Irons  are  less  barbarous  than  whipping,"  ob- 
served the  officer ;  "  and  for  that  reason  are  often 
employed  as  a  substitute." 

"  A  more  humane  punishment,  truly,"  sighed  the 
lady,  as  if  relieved  from  further  fears  of  my  fero- 
ciousness. "  It  is  very  considerate  and  Christian- 
like  to  be  merciful,  but  don't  you  think  that  by 
religious  training  and  moral  efforts,  sailors  might 
be  brought  to  be  governed  without  any  of  those 
cruel  modes  of  punishment?" 

"  Perhaps  so,"  observed  he  of  the  epaulets, 
smiling;  "  but  it  will  require  a  good  schoolmaster 
to  bring  about  so  desirable  an  end." 

The  officer  turned  away  to  answer  the  question 
of  another  of  the  ladies,  when  the  little  missionary 
begged  to  know  if  it  would  be  violating  the  rules 
of  the  ship  for  her  to  speak  to  the  prisoner.  The 
officer  gave  a  negative  sign,  upon  which  the  lady, 
after  pressing  a  tract  upon  the  sentry,  who  was 
walking  to  and  fro  a  few  paces  in  front  of  me, 
approached  to  where  I  was  lying. 

Now  if  there  is  any  thing  in  this  world  irrita- 
ting to  a  sensitive  mind,  smarting  under  a  con- 
sciousness of  injustice  and  degradation,  it  is  that  of 
being  talked  to  by  persons  wholly  unacquainted 


214        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

with  his  condition,  thoughts,  and  feelings,  and  con- 
sequently incapable  of  affording  him  either  sym- 
pathy or  relief  in  his  sufferings.  This  lady,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  could  comprehend  nothing  of  the 
object  of  my  imprisonment,  nor  knew  she  aught 
of  the  causes  which  had  led  to  it ;  and  under  this 
conviction  I  was  conscious  that  she  would  only 
prove  a  Job's  comforter  at  best.  My  fancy  was, 
moreover,  at  that  very  time,  haunted  by  the  rum- 
colored  visage  of  the  little  boatswain,  whom  in 
imagination,  I  was  knocking  into  a  perfect  jelly, 
and  battering  down  his  fiery  nose  to  a  level  with 
his  upper  lip.  These  passionate  reflections  had 
rendered  me  about  as  fit  an  object  for  the  opera- 
tions of  a  lady  missionary  as  the  most  obdurate 
heathen.  She,  however,  advanced  near  to  me. 
Without  looking  off  my  book,  I  awaited  her  com- 
mands. 

"  Sir,''  began  she. 

"  We  don't  sir  any  body  in  this  ship  but  offi- 
cers," interrupted  I,  without  looking  up. 

"  You  must  excuse  me  then,  as  I  am  unac- 
quainted with  your  rules,"  said  she,  with  some 
trepidation.  "  You  appear  to  find  a  pleasure  in 
reading  books,  and  indeed  I  am  sure  that  good 
books  must  afford  you  many  edifying  reflections  in 
your  unpleasant  situation.  May  I  know  what  book 
you  are  reading  ?" 

"  It's  a  novel,"  observed  I. 

"  A  novel !"  echoed  the  fair  missionary,  with  a 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       215 

look  of  disappointment.  "  And  do  you  suppose 
there  is  much  instruction  to  be  obtained  from  the 
reading  of  novels  ?"  added  she,  tapping  a  volume 
of  religious  tracts  across  her  fingers. 

"  I  obtain  amusement  from  them,  and  that  is  all 
I  care  about,"  replied  I. 

"  Indeed.  But  you  are  conscious  of  having  a 
soul ;  do  you  care  nothing  for  the  welfare  of  your 
immortal  soul  ?" 

"  No,  for  I  fear  it  has  been  damned  long  ago," 
said  I,  drawing  my  feet  off  the  cable,  with  a  clank 
of  the  irons  that  made  the  young  lady  recoil. 

"You  astonish  me!"  exclaimed  she,  trying  to 
look  as  amazed  as  possible.  "  Surely  you  do  not 
mean " 

"  I  do  mean  just  what  I  say,  madam,  and  noth- 
ing else.  I  am  cursed  daily,  up  and  down,  alow 
and  aloft,  from  larboard  to  starboard  and  back 
again.  I've  been  cursed  half  a  dozen  times  since 
eight  bells  this  morning ;  and  three  hours  ago  was 
cursed  by  that  gentleman  walking  yonder  with  the 
ladies,  and  at  his  orders  placed  in  these  irons. 
Could  damning  have  sent  me  to  the  devil,  it  would 
have  been  all  up  with  me  long  ago,  and  I  really 
question  whether  my  situation  there  would  be  much 
more  intolerable  than  it  is  in  this  ship." 

"Oh!  how  sorry  I  am  to  hear  you  talk  so," 
ejaculated  my  lady  visitor,  pressing  the  religious 
volume  between  both  her  hands.  "  Forget  and 
forgive  the  wicked  ways  of  the  world,  and  turn 


216       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

your  thoughts  towards  heaven  and  your  Saviour — 
there  you  will  find  happiness  and  peace.  The 
abuse  and  wicked  language  of  the  ungodly  will 
then  lose  their  effect  upon  you,  and  you  will  gra- 
dually become  a  better  and  a  happier  man.  Per- 
mit me  to  give  you  this  tract — it  is  the  story  of  the 
conversion  of  an  humble  sailor  like  yourself.  It 
may  perhaps  arouse  you  to  a  sense  of  your  dying 
condition,  and  point  you  the  way  to  salvation." 

"  I  do  not  desire  it,"  said  I,  resuming  my  novel. 

"Let  me  insist  on  your  taking  it,''  continued  the 
lady,  with  a  perseverance  that  provoked  me. 

"  I  will  not  have  it,"  reiterated  I,  striking  my 
shackled  feet  vehemently  on  the  deck.  "  Give  it 
to  the  officers,  they  need  it  a  great  sight  worse  than 
I  do." 

u  Oh  !  mercy,  mergy  !  did  I  ever  hear  such  pro- 
fanity !"  cried  the  little  missionary,  holding  up 
both  hands  in  astonishment. 

"If  you  call  that  profanity,  what  term  would 
you  apply  to  the  language  of  most  of  our  lieute- 
nants when  getting  a  ship  under  weigh,  or  tacking 
and  veering  in  a  head  wind.  Their  oaths  are  ren 
dered  doubly  horrible  by  being  ejected  through  a 
speaking  trumpet  in  such  unearthly  tones  as  ter- 
rify both  God  and  man.  If  you  were  once  to  hear 
them,  madam,  your  hair  would  rise  on  end,  and  you 
would  dread  that  both  yourself  and  the  vessel  would 
be  sent  to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean  as  a  just  punish- 
ment for  such  presumption.  Profanity  !  why  like 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFOUE  THE  MAST.       217 

everything  else,  it  is  a  science,  and  they  alone  are 
proficient  in  it." 

'•Indeed,  you  terrify  me.  I  will  talk  with  you 
no  l.»:iger.  I  can  scarce  credit  your  account  of 
the  uificers ;  I  have  seen  many  of  them,  and  they 
have  always  appeared  to  me  as  being  very  polite 
and  agreeable." 

"No  doubt  they  appear  so,  madam,  and  if  you 
were  to  encounter  Satan  himself,  you  would  most 
likely  meet  him  with  a  smile  on  his  face  and  an 
epaulet  on  his  shoulder." 

My  lady  visitor  had  scarcely  rejoined  her  com- 
panions when  a  bustle  on  the  forward  part  of  the 
upper  gun-deck,  announced  the  master-at-arrns  with 
another  prisoner,  in  whom  I  recognized  Walter 
Summers,  one  of  the  men  who  had  deserted  from 
the  first  cutter  of  the  Preble,  at  Pictou.  Poor 
Walter  had  been  apprehended  at  Portsmouth,  by 
some  one  of  the  outrunners  of  the  Columbus,  and 
was  brought  to  Charlestown  by  the  kidnapper  with 
the  hope  of  obtaining  the  reward.  He  was  imme- 
diately placed  in  double  irons,  and  like  me,  left 
under  the  surveillance  of  the  sentry.  There  was 
some  consolation  in  having  company  in  my  impri- 
sonment, and  a  good  deal  more  in  the  thought  that 
mine  was  a  far  less  aggravated  case  than  his.  As 
night  approached,  we  were  greeted  with  the  appear- 
ance of  two  more  offenders,  one  for  theft,  and  the 
other  for  drunkenness ;  and  our  party  now  num- 
bering four  persons,  Summers  and  I  thought  of 
19 


218        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

having  a  jolly  night  of  it ;  hut  one  heing  too  sullen 
to  talk,  and  the  other  too  drunk  to  say  anything,  we 
were  obliged  to  limit  our  fun  to  ourselves. 

I  had  supposed,  that  at  the  assembling  of  the 
Treble's  crew  for  evening  muster,  my  absence  would 
be  discovered,  and  inquiries  started,  leading  to  my 
release  ;  but  by  some  unaccountable  oversight,  my 
absence  escaped  the  notice  of  the  officers  at  muster, 
and  I  was,  in  consequence,  left  in  confinement. 
Nor  did  the  following  morning  bring  with  it  any 
relief.  The  hour  of  nine  arrived,  when  the  Pre- 
ble's  crew  again  departed  to  their  labors  at  the  dry- 
dock,  without  making  the  least  inquiries  concerning 
me,  and  I  began  to  grow  suspicious  of  having  been 
transferred,  in  a  clandestine  manner,  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  officers  of  the  Columbus. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  captain,  accompanied  by  the 
surgeon,  appeared  on  the  gun-deck,  taking  his 
inspectional  round ;  and  observing  at  a  side  glance 
us  four  prisoners,  properly  equipped  and  jewelled 
for  an  introduction  to  that  figurative  animal,  the 
boatswain's  cat,  was  far  too  gallant  both  in  taste 
and  inclination  to  suffer  our  disappointment  in  so 
gratifying  an  evejit.  To  render  the  ceremony  as 
imposing  as  possible,  he  moved  with  a  dignified 
step  towards  the  mainmast,  and  encountering  the 
boatswain  in  his  way  thither,  spoke  a  few  words 
with  a  significant  nod  to  that  little  officer,  who 
darted  hastily  away,  first  to  larboard,  and  then  to 
starboard,  in  search  of  his  mates ;  and  kicking  up 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        219 

his  heels,  as  if  having  got  a  very  pleasant  idea  into 
them,  pitched  into  the  main-hatch,  where  in  his 
eagerness,  he  twice  bumped  his  head  against  the 
sheet-cable,  and  finally  managed  to  disappear  below. 
An  instant  afterwards  the  master-at-arms  stood  at 
the  elbow  of  captain  Smith,  in  hatless  obsequiency, 
but  to  avoid  the  imputation  of  listening  with  disrepect 
to  the  orders  of  his  commander,  he,  at  each  affirma- 
tive nod,  kept  pulling  and  twitching  at  a  small 
tuft  of  hair  which  stuck  out  like  a  peg  from  his 
cranium,  as  if  by  continued  perseverance  he  hoped 
to  find  a  hat  there.  The  words  of  the  captain 
appeared  to  have  a  spirited  effect  on  the  hatless 
petty  officer,  for  he  began  to  dodge  and  fuss  about 
as  if  some  mission  of  vast  importance  had  been 
committed  to  his  charge. 

Now  all  the  prisoners  understood  the  movements 
of  the  captain,  boatswain,  and  master-at-arms,  as 
well  as  if  they  had  heard  every  word  that  passed 
between  them,  for  they  had  often  before  witnessed 
the  same  proceedings,  and  invariably  found  them 
followed  by  the  cry  of  "All  hands  witness  pun- 
ishment." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  shrill  whistles  of  the  boat- 
swain and  his  mates,  were  heard  resounding  through 
the  ship,  followed  by  the  hoarse  dull  cry  of  words 
that  more  than  .a  thousand  times  before  had  rever- 
berated along  the  decks,  beams,  and  timbers  of  the 
old  Columbus,  carrying  dismay  and  terror  to  the 
heart  of  many  a  poor  culprit,  whose  only  crime 


220        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

had  been  spitting  upon  the  deck,  or  by  casual 
accident  spilling  a  small  bit  of  grease  from  his 
soup  pan,  while  eating  his  scanty  and  scarcely 
palatable  meal.  But  such  was  the  penalty  which 
discipline  imposed,  and  we  who  were  now  in  con- 
finement, were  about  to  taste  the  reward  of  our 
iniquity.  The  men  and  boys  soon  gathered  in 
crowds  up  the  hatchways,  and  by  degrees  a  small 
group  of  officers  collected  together  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  capstan.  The  marines  were  also  called  up, 
and  took  their  stations  on  the  quarter-deck,  the 
warlike  appearance  of  their  heavy  arms  rendered 
more  imposing  by  charged  bayonets.  In  the  mean- 
time the  master-at-arms  hurried  off  to  the  store 
room,  from  whence  he  soon  returned  with  a  wrench 
and  hammer,  and  hastily  knocking  off  the  irons 
from  our  hands  and  feet,  led  us  aft  to  the  main- 
mast. 

Summers  being  a  deserter,  the  heinousness  of  his 
crime  required  a  more  severe  and  decisive  chas- 
tisement than  trivial  offences,  and  hence  he,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  became  number  one  in  the  order 
of  the  day.  The  captain,  after  questioning  him 
in  respect  to  the  necessary  particulars  of  his  case, 
gave  him  his  choice  to  take  either  such  discretion- 
ary punishment  as  he  would  inflict  on  him,  or  sub- 
mit himself  to  the  examination  a>nd  sentence  of  a 
court  martial.  The  young  man  chose  the  former 
alternative,  rightly  judging  that  no  leniency  was  to 
be  expected  from  the  parade  and  award  of  a  court 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        221 

martial.  He  was  then  ordered  to  strip  off  his 
clothes,  which  he  modestly  and  somewhat  diffi- 
dently accomplished,  after  which  he  was  given  in 
custody  of  the  quarter-masters,  who  with  thongs  in 
their  hands,  led  him  to  the  bulwarks,  and  tying 
him  hand  and  foot,  left  him  to  the  operation  of  the 
boatswain's  mates,  those  sturdy  executioners  of 
republican  laws. 

The  day  was  cold  and  piercing;  and  the  air, 
while  it  hardened  the  skin,  at  the  same  time  ren- 
dered it  more  brittle  and  easier  cut.  It  caused 
one's  flesh  to  creep,  and  the  blood  to  tingle  in  his 
veins,  even  -to  think  of  the  cats ;  and  when  they 
were  elevated  over  the  shoulders  of  poor  Summers, 
I  could  scarcely  repress  a  tear  in  commisseration 
of  the  torment  he  was  about  to  suffer.  Perhaps 
my  own  situation  at  that  particular  period  may 
have  rendered  me  more  susceptible  to  compassion- 
ate feelings,  or  it  may  have  been  the  patient  and 
resigned  demeanor  of  the  young  prisoner  that 
affected  me ;  but  no  matter  what  it  was.  Every 
man-of-war  sailor  knows  that  a  tear  cannot  arrest 
the  arm  of  boatswain's-mate,  or  a  beating  heart 
save  a  man's  back  from  an  extensive  thrashing. 
The  blow  descended,  and  the  skin  flew,  while  the 
excoriated  marks  of  the  cords  that  stretched  from 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  were  immediately  suffused 
with  gore.  The  poor  fellow  braved  it  nobly,  and 
with  the  exceptions  of  a  gathering  paleness  on  his 
cheek,  and  an  unconquerable  shiver  that  ran  like  a 
19* 


222         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

fearful  ague  through  his  whole  frame,  stood  as 
passive  and  immovable  as  a  pillar  of  granite.  No 
cry,  no  word,  no  sound  escaped  his  lips  ;  and  as 
blow  succeeded  blow  in  lacerating  his  quivering 
flesh,  he  appeared  to  gather  new  firmness,  and  knit 
himself  more  resolutely  to  the  brutal  punishment. 
By  the  time  three  dozen  lashes  were  administered, 
the  blood  had  oozed  its  way  down,  filling  the 
waistbands  of  the  young  man's  trowsers,  and  a  few 
drops  trickling  into  the  gangway  at  the  feet  of  the 
boatswain's-mate,  the  captain,  in  consideration  of 
the  deck  rather  than  of  the  mangled  back  of  the 
sufferer,  ordered  the  punishment  to  be  stopped. 

Summers  having  been  released,  I  was  next  called 
up.  I  made  two  attempts  to  justify  my  conduct, 
but  was  both  times  silenced  by  the  captain.  Seeing 
that  I  was  in  for  an  infamous  punishment,  which  I 
knew  I  did  not  deserve,  I  proceeded  rather  reluc- 
tantly to  undress  myself.  I  must  confess  that  the 
scene  I  had  just  beheld  operated  so  strongly  on 
my  senses  as  to  render  me  feeble  and  nervous. 
When  naked,  I  looked  appealingly  around,  with 
the  hope  of  meeting  the  eye  of  some  one  who 
might  be  disposed  to  favor  me  with  an  interces- 
sion ;  but  all  were  apparently  influenced  with  a 
desire  of  witnessing  a  repetition  of  the  cruel  scene. 
Turning  towards  the  gangway,  with  feelings  which 
it  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  describe,  I  pre- 
sented my  hand  to  the  proper  officers  to  be  bound. 
The  quarter-masters  finished  their  task,  and  stepped 


FIVE  YKARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        223 

aside.  I  looked  over  my  left  shoulder,  and  saw  the 
boatswain  hand  his  mate  the  cats ;  they  were  those 
which  on  the  previous  evening  had  been  soaked  in 
salt  water  to  whip  the  thief  with.  I  turned  my 
face  away,  and  for  a  minute  became  unconscious 
of  what  was  passing  around  me.  I  heard  only  a 
confused  murmur,  and  a  rushing  sound,  while  a 
heavy  blow  descended  on  my  back,  suspending  my 
breath,  and  penetrating  every  fibre  of  my  body 
with  a  pain  more  excruciating  than  if  molten  metal 
had  been  poured  upon  me,  seething  and  scorching 
my  flesh  to  the  very  marrow.  Could  I  at  that 
instant  have  recovered  my  breath,  I  would  perhaps 
have  yelled  out  for  mercy,  but  I  was  unable  to  do 
so.  I  braced  myself  for  the  second  blow,  but 
before  it  descended  a  voice  from  the  quarter-deck 
called  out  "  stop."  It  was  Mr.  Newman,  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Preble.  Having  heard  of  my 
unjust  incarceration  on  board  the  Columbus,  he  had 
come  to  procure  my  release.  A  few  words  of 
explanation  from  Mr.  Newman  gave  a  new  turn  to 
the  proceedings.  Captain  Smith  ordered  me  to  be 
released  at  once,  and  hastily  drawing  on  my  clothes 
I  made  my  way  out  of  the  ship  as  quickly  a8 
possible. 

During  the  third  week  of  our  residence  on  board 
the  Columbus  the  sloop  Preble  was  again  committed 
to  the  waters  of  Massachusetts  bay,  and  near  the 
same  time  an  order  was  received  from  government 
to  equip  her  immediately  for  the  Mediterranean  sta- 


224        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tion.  This  arrangement  made  it  necessary  to  man 
her  with  a  new  set  of  hands,  as  many  members  of 
the  old  company  had  but  a  few  months  longer  to 
serve.  A  sufficient  crew  was  soon  collected  to 
gether  from  the  receiving  ship,  while  those  men 
who  were  dismissed  from  the  Preble,  found  them- 
selves consigned  over  in  exchange,  to  the  command 
of  Captain  Smith.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add, 
that  this  arrangement  brought  myself,  and  all  those 
interested  in  the  joint  letter  to  the  Navy  depart- 
ment, to  a  fixed  and  permanent  residence  on  board 
the  Columbus. 

While  this  final  transfer  was  being  completed, 
I  fell  into  a  misunderstanding  with  the  purser  in 
respect  to  grog-money.  The  government,  with  the 
praiseworthy  design  of  encouraging  temperance  in 
the  navy,  authorized  the  payment  of  six  cents  pe- 
day  to  every  seaman  who  would  forego  the  luxury  of 
his  half  pint  of  liquor ;  while  many  men,  with  the 
equally  laudable  design  of  adding  that  much  daily 
pay  to  their  scanty  wages,  embraced  the  offer. 
By  this  happy  concurrence  of  circumstances,  the 
excellent  design  of  each  was  properly  accomplished, 
and  the  sailor  trebly  remunerated,  inasmuch  as  he 
became  the  gainer,  not  only  pecuniarily,  but  also 
morally  and  physically.  It  was,  however,  made 
rulable  in  the  service  that  the  money  should  be 
paid  quarterly  to  every  anti-grog  drinker.  My- 
self, having  been  a  total  abstinent  during  the  whole 
period  of  my  service  in  the  Preble,  received  regu- 


YEARS  BKFOHB  THE  MAST.        225 

larly  iny  quarterly  stipend  of  five  dollars  and  forty- 
four  cents;  and  I  now  supposed  that 'when  the 
Treble's  books  would  be  footed  up,  and  the  balance 
stricken,  there  would  be  some  show  of  my  last 
quarter's  grog-money,  which  was  near  falling  due, 
and  which  I  desired  to  draw  on  board  of  the  Co- 
lumbus. 

Had  the  purser  credited  me  with  four  dollars 
and  twenty  cents,  and  charged  the  government,  he 
would  have  but  carried  out  the  principle  of  the 
regulation,  and  I  should  not  have  been  wronged 
out  of  a  single  cent ;  but  this  he  positively  refused 
to  do,  and  declared  that  there  was  no  grog-money 
due  me  until  the  final  expiration  of  the  quarter. 
He,  however,  did  not  deem  it  an  unworthy  act  to 
charge  the  government  four  dollars  and  twenty 
cents,  although  he  placed  nothing  to  my  credit; 
but  for  what  purpose  he  did  it  1  know  not.  All 
I  can  conscientiously  say,  is  that  between  the  public 
purse,  the  purser's  purse,  the  purser,  and  the  per- 
severance of  the  purser's  steward,  I  was  fleeced 
out  of  the  sum  of  four  dollars  and  twenty  cents ; 
and  what  made  the  thing  still  more  aggravating, 
was  that  they  prohibited  me  from  drawing  my 
grog  ration  on  board  the  Columbus  until  the  ter- 
mination of  the  quarter,  so  that  by  the  whole  pro- 
cess of  this  act  of  peculation,  I  was  actually 
defrauded  of  a  full  quarter's  grog*money.  It  is, 
however,  a  very  consoling  reflection  to  know  that, 
by  this  species  of  worldly  prudence,  purser  Wilson 


226       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

prospered  so  amazingly  that  in  the  course  of  a  fe^i 
years  he  became  possessed  of  wealth  to  the  amount 
of  an  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  and  that  at  his 
death  he  was  enabled  to  secure  the  reputation  of  an 
honest  man  by  granting  munificent  bequests  to  the 
support  of  institutions  which,  iu  the  remotest 
degree,  could  never  benefit  one  single  individual  of 
the  hundreds  of  humble  seamen  from  whose  sweat 
and  toil  those  sums  of  money  were  originally 
wrung. 


!i)iirlee*)ll). 


Ii  which  the  Jour.  Shoemaker  is  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Ship's 
Pedagogue. 

I  HAVE  already  hinted  that  the  Columbus  was  a 
school-ship.  That  is,  if  a  den  where  some  two 
hundred  boys  are  collected  together,  exposed  to 
every  kind  of  sinful  vice — where  swearing,  gam- 
bling, cheating,  lying,  and  stealing,  are  the  con- 
tinual order  of  the  day  ;  where  drunkenness,  obsce- 
nity, and  self-pollution,  stalk  unrestrained ;  and 
where  crimes  abound  of  even  so  deep  and  black  a 
dye  that  it  fires  the  cheek  with  shame  to  name 
them,  and  which  yet  escape  the  just  punishment 
their  heinousness  deserves  ;  if,  I  say,  such  a  place 
constitutes  a  school-ship,  then  was  the  Columbus, 
like  the  North  Carolina,  emphatically  a  school- 
ship. 

0  ye  moralists  !  talk  not  of  the  temptations  of 
a  city,  the  corrupting  tendency  of  brothels,  the 
demoralizing  influence  of  theatres  and  public  exhi- 
bitions, for  city  life  with  all  its  evil  accompani- 
ments, is  a  career  of  godliness  in  comparison  to 
that  which  is  endured  on  board  a  man-of-war. 
Temptation  supposes  an  occasional  wandering  of 
the  youthful  traveller  from  the  pathway  of  virtue, 

(227) 


228         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

and  if  he  find  his  soul  languishing  in  bickness  from 
the  evil  he  has  plucked,  he  may  again  be  healed 
by  drinking  copiously  from  the  healthful  springs 
that  beset  his  onward  journey  ;  but  here,  alas  !  the 
poor  boy  is  suddenly  dropped  into  a  wilderness  of 
sin,  amid  which  he  plucks  and  eats  of  every  vice 
until  he  becomes  sick  and  blind,  and  can  never 
more  hope  to  stumble  on  virtue  except  by  accident. 
He  finds  too  late  that  his  moral  health  has  been 
prematurely  poisoned.  He  is  drilled  into  vice 
from  morning  to  night  and  from  night  to  morning, 
as  regularly  and  methodically  as  a  soldier  is  drilled 
in  the  discipline  of  his  corps.  His  heart  becomes 
hardened,  his  moral  sensibilities  are  blunted,  and 
when  he  attains  to  what  in  common  parlance  is 
called  maturity  of  years,  the  moral  man  is  lost  in 
the  drunken  and  swaggering  profligate.  Example 
is  every  thing  in  the  training  up  of  the  young, 
and  what  hope  a  parent  could  have  in  surrounding 
his  or  her  child,  with  such  examples,  God  only 
knows  !  As  well  might  we  expect  to  reap  wheat 
from  tares,  or  seek  for  diamonds  in  filthy  sewers, 
as  look  for  virtue  amid  corruption,  drunkenness, 
and  unbridled  licentiousness. 

But  then  it  was  the  naval  apprentice  system,  and 
the  naval  apprentice  system  was  then  in  its  full  fcide 
of  popularity.  Every  body  believed  it  was  a  grand 
scheme,  and  tried  to  persuade  everybody  else  to 
believe  so  too.  It  was  the  general  impression  that 
the  world  was  about  beginning  its  regeneration,  and 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        229 

toat  contrary  to  the  usual  origin  of  reformations, 
the  first  movement  had  started  up  at  sea.  It  was 
wonderful  to  hear  what  talking  there  was — to  see 
the  running  and  visiting  of  ships — to  witness  the 
bowing,  scraping,  cutting,  shuffling  and  smiling  of 
citizens  in  their  congratulations  of  lieutenants  and 
captains,  on  the  supposed  approach  of  the  happy 
millennium.  An  entirely  new  order  of  men  were 
to  be  ushered  into  existence ;  the  character  of  the 
navy  was  to  be  elevated  to  an  unprecedented  stand- 
ard of  respectability ;  the  old  order  of  discipline 
was  all  to  be  knocked  into  a  cocked  hat,  while 
superannuated  old  salts  were  to  be  turned  over  to  a 
,  life  pension  in  the  hospital  of  oblivion,  and  their 
places  occupied  by  the  hopeful  progeny  of  the  ap- 
prentice system.  In  short,  it  was  hailed  as  a  glo- 
rious epoch  in  the  history  of  naval  tactics,  and  loud 
hosannas  were,  in  all  quarters,  sung  in  its  praise ; 
while  the  government,  catching  a  part  of  the  gene- 
ral enthusiasm,  thought  they  were  playing  high 
pranks,  and  no  doubt  they  were. 

The  result  of  all  this  talk  and  clatter  was,  that 
many  a  poor  woman  who  groaned  over  the  wash- 
tub  in  earning  a  scanty  subsistence  for  her  faithful 
offspring,  sought  to  lighten  her  toil  by  binding  her 
son  into  the  navy.  Here,  she  believed  he  would  be 
provided  for.  The  thought,  too,  that  he  would 
here  be  instructed  in  the  rudiments  of  an  education 
which  her  poverty  denied  her  the  means  of  impart- 
ing to  him,  made  his  incarceration  seem  like  an  act 
20 


230        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

of  benevolence  to  her  child.  The  idea  that  a  cer- 
tain number  of  midshipmen  were  to  be  annually 
selected  from  among  the  apprentice  boys,  was,  also, 
an  intoxicating  thought  to  many  vain  mothers,  each 
of  whom,  believing  her  own  son  to  be  the  smartest 
child  in  the  world,  supposed  him  likely,  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  to  be  honored  with  the  first  star  and 
anchor,  and  gold-laced  cap.  Little  knew  these 
•weak  mortals  of  the  corrupting  influence  attending 
the  kind  of  life  to  which  they  were  consigning  their 
children.  They  had  doubtless  formed  their  esti- 
mate of  the  navy  from  the  general  appearance  of 
its  officers,  and  come  to  the  unwise,  though  not  un- 
usual conclusion,  that  what  was  elegant  and  gra- 
cious in  external  demeanor  could  harbor  but  few 
imperfections  within.  Their  general  deportment, 
as  well  as  the  positions  they  occupied,  inspired  con- 
fidence, and  led  weak-minded  parents  fondly  to  im- 
agine that  children  entrusted  to  the  guardianship 
of  such  men,  could  never  want  for  kind  and  be- 
nevolent masters. 

But  what  landsman  has  ever  yet  learned  to  esti- 
mate the  extent  of  that  barrier  which  discipline  has 
interposed  between  naval  officers  and  their  subordi- 
nates ?  The  two  are  as  far  asunder  as  heaven  and 
earth.  Heaven  cau  only  be  attained  by  severing 
the  link  that  binds  us  to  life,  and  it  is  only  by 
breaking  the  chain  of  discipline  that  a  naval  sea- 
man can  ever  arrive  at  intercourse  with  an  officer. 
The  practiced  coachman  turns  not  aside  his  vehicle 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        231 

to  spare  the  little  worm  that  trails  across  his  path, 
nor  pauses  he  to  sympathize  with  the  dying  victim  as 
the  quivering  lirahs  whirl  round  with  the  iron  bands 
of  the  onward  wheels ;  so  neither  cares  the  officer 
for  the  crushed  and  mangled  hearts  of  men  and 
boys,  that  lie,  broken,  bleeding  and  dying,  beneath 
the  onward  wheels  of  discipline.  True,  the  acci- 
dents of  the  wealthy,  or  the  misfortunes  of  the 
great,  may  elicit  from  him  a  passing  exclamation 
of  pity,  or  he  may  even  sympathize  to  tears  over  the 
calamities  of  some  abused  and  ill-treated  young  lady 
of  whom  he  reads  in  the  public  prints ;  for  the  ro- 
mance of  such  things  renders  them  interesting,  and 
they  are  therefore  not  to  be  passed  by.  lightly, 
or  with  indifference.  But  what  cares  he  for  the 
\vnsherwoman's  son,  or  the  orphan  child  of  poverty  ? 
What  claims  can  the  poor  illegitimate  .boy  have  on 
his  charity  and  protection — he  whose  mother  has 
v.ithered  away  into  an  untimely  grave,  and  whose 
father,  becoming  an  enemy  to  his  own  flesh  and 
Mood,  after  having  stamped  upon  his  child  the 
indelible  stain  of  bastardy,  casts  him  forth  to  wal- 
low and  fester  in  premature  corruption  ?  He  could 
not  for  a  moment  suffer  his  thoughts  to  dwell  on 
such  lowly  objects,  except  by  way  of  discipline, 
which  always  carries  with  it  a  strong  presumption 
in  favor  of  the  cat-o'-nine-tails.  No,  no,  it  would 
be  too  humiliating  a  condescension  to  inquire  into 
the  thoughts,  tastes,  inclinations,  wants,  and  sor- 
rows of  so  plebeian  a  race  of  mortals ;  it  would  be 

v.  \ 


•2-j'2        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

too  mighty  a  breach  of  discipline  to  stand  by  the 
hammock  of  a  sick  boy,  and  when  his  yet  innocent 
and  untainted  heart  was  breaking  with  the  recol- 
lections of  a  once  happy  home,  now  rendered  deso- 
late by  the  death  of  her  whom  his  lips  were  taught 
to  call  mother,  wipe  the  tears  from  his  pale  cheek, 
and  breathe  into  his  little  ear  one  soothing  word  of 
kindness  and  comfort.  What  happy  impulses 
might  not  so  tender  a  shoot  receive  from  one  kind 
word  of  hope  and  encouragement.  But  no,  he  may 
weep,  wither  and  die,  neglected,  in  the  purlieus  of 
his  prison  house,  his  malady  uncared  for,  and  his 
sorrows  and  sufferings  unknown. 

Well,  as  has  been  twice  remarked,  the  Columbus 
was  a  school-ship,  and  whether  for  better  or  for 
worse  the  reader  will  have  perceived  that  I  was 
permanently,  fixed  in  it,  for  a  time  at  least,  and 
being  so  fixed  in  it,  it  became  me  to  make  the  best 
of  it  I  could.  Before  I  had  been  a  week  on  board 
as  one  of  her  crew,  I  was  appointed  a  ship's  corpo- 
ral, which  though  not  a  very  dignified  office,  had 
nevertheless  some  privileges  connected  with  it 
which  I  had  no  particular  objections  towards  enjoy- 
ing; and  it  was  also  rendered  the  more  desirable  to 
me,  as  it  placed  my  duties  out  of  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  boatswain.  I  had  completed  two  days  in  the 
oxercise  of  my  new  office  when  a  letter  arrived  from 
Washington,  in  reference  to  our  Portland  corres- 
pondence. The  hopes  of  all  my  companions  were 
revived  at  this  pleasing  intelligence.  Every  man 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THK  MAST.        233 

was  now  sanguine  in  his  expectations  of  being  dis- 
charged, and  I  myself  had  but  little  doubt  of  such 
a  result.  Our  suspense  was,  however,  soon  over. 
On  being  called  on  the  quarter-deck,  a  letter  from 
the  navy  department  was  read  to  us,  couched  in 
such  ambiguous  terms  that  it  required  a  better  lin- 
guist than  any  one  we  had  in  our  party  to  make 
out  head  or  tail  of  its  meaning.  To  me,  the  word- 
ing of  the  letter  appeared  to  refer  the  subject  of 
our  discharge  entirely  to  the  discretion  of  Commo- 
dore Downes ;  but  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Co- 
lumbus, who  pretended  to  be  clearly  booked  up  in 
the  decyphering  of  such  official  bulletins,  gave  it  a 
very  different  turn,  and  stated  it  as  the  desire  of 
the  department  to  have  us  remain  its  loyal,  and 
faithful  subjects,  "now  and  evermore,  even  unto 
the  end."  Painfully  mortifying  as  was  this  con- 
struction to  our  feelings,  we  were  obliged  to  suc- 
cumb to  it,  and  bow  submissively  to  the  mandate 
of  our  superiors.  Thus  terminated  our  project  of 
endeavoring  to  over-reach  Commodore  Nicholson, 
and  Captain  Breese. 

A  few  days  after  the  above  finale,  I  was  honored 
with  a  visit  from  Mr.  John  Pope,  formerly  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Independence,  but  now  lieutenant 
of  Charlestown  Navy  Yard.  This  gentleman  ap- 
peared to  be  troubled  with  qualms  in  regard  to 
the  Portland  letter.  His  name  had  never  been 
mentioned  in  the  correspondence,  but  still  he, 
somehow  or  other,  supposed  himself  implicated. 
20* 


234       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

This  uneasiness  appeared  to  me  presumptive  evi- 
dence of  his  having  aided  and  abetted  in  our  unjust 
detention ;  and  when  in  conjunction  with  this,  was 
considered  the  manner  in  which  he  had  hacked  up 
Commodore  Nicholson's  speech  at  New  York,  the 
evidence  was  almost  conclusive  against  him.  Fully 
impressed  with  the  sense  of  the  injustice  I  had  suf- 
fered at  his  hands,  as  well  as  at  those  of  his  former 
commander,  I  proceeded  to  meet  him  at  the  main- 
mast. He  opened  immediately  by  referring  to  the 
Portland  letter.  He  regretted  that  it  had  ever 
been  written,  inasmuch  as  none  of  the  parties 
interested  in  it  had  been  benefitted  by  it.  It  had 
only  placed  me  in  an  awkward  position,  he  said, 
and  created  a  good  deal  of  dissatisfaction  on  the 
part  of  Captain  Breese.  He  said,  also,  that  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  in  consequence  of  it,  had 
been  misled  to  make  some  unpleasant  reflections 
on  the  conduct  of  Commodore  Nicholson ;  that  the 
latter  gentleman  had  written  a  sharp  letter  to  him, 
in  which  he  more  than  hinted  some  disagreeable 
and  offensive  imputations,  of  which,  however,  he 
thanked  God  that  he  could  clear  himself ;  that  the 
men  who  were  retained  had,  in  fact,  never  been 
promised  their  discharges,  and  finally  wound  up  by 
declaring  the  whole  letter  from  beginning  to  end, 
a  tissue  of  lies,  fabricated  from  motives  of  malice, 
and  sent  to  Washington  in  direct  violation  of  disci- 
pline and  subordination. 

Upon  this,  I  ventured  to  observe,  that  an  humble 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       235 

seaman,  whose  personal  rights  were  too  often  over- 
looked by  officers  in  the  pursuit  of  more  weighty- 
interests,  and  whose  moral  character  was  always 
squared  by  the  cat-o'-nine-tails,  could  scarcely  be 
expected  to  understand  all  the  crooks  and  turns  of 
naval  etiquette,  and  hence  I  might  stand  in  some 
measure  excusable.  "  But,"  added  I,  "  Is  it  not 
true,  sir,  that  both  yourself  and  Commodore  Nich- 
olson, as  well  as  Captain  Gallagher,  held  out  to  us, 
at  New  York,  the  strongest  impression  that  we 
would  be  discharged  ?" 

"  I  believe  that  such  was  the  general  impression 
of  most  of  the  men,"  observed  Mr.  Pope,  evasively. 

"  Oh  !  certainly  the  man  believed  so,  of  course." 
said  I,  not  a  little  amused  at  Mr.  Pope's  dexterity 
in  dodging  my  question.  "  But  were  Commodore 
Nicholson  and  yourself  sincere  in  your  belief  that 
we  would  be  discharged  ?" 

"  We  were,"  replied  Mr.  Pope. 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  proceeded  I,  "  You  will  then 
perceive  by  your  own  admission,  that  all  the  state- 
ments contained  in  the  letter  are  not  lies." 

Mr.  Pope  looked  very  black  at  these  words,  and 
the  second  lieutenant  of  the  Columbus,  who  was 
walking  near  us,  and  who  overheard  every  word 
that  was  uttered,  shoved  up  alongside  of  Mr.  Pope 
and  joined  in  the  discourse. 

"  Mr.  Pope,"  said  he,  "  I  am  surprised  that  you 
waste  time  in  talking  with  this  scoundrel.  It  is 
just  such  men  as  he  that  disgrace  the  service. 


236       FIVE  YKAP.S  BEFOKK  THE  MAST. 

They  go  abroad  in  merchant  ships  to  foreign  ports, 
where  they  are  kicked  ashore  for  laziness  and  ras- 
cality, and  after  becoming  ragged,  dirty,  half 
starved  and  lousy,  then  they  beg  to  be  taken  into 
our  ships;  and  when  we  take  them  in,  and  give 
them  plenty  to  eat  and  drink,  and  good  usage — a 

d d  sight  too  good,  for  if  I  had  my  way,  I 

would  flog  every  rascal  of  them  three  times  a  day — • 
then  they  come  home  to  their  own  country,  and 
turn  around  and  abuse  us  officers." 

This  pithy  interlude  of  Lieutenant  Johnson,  had 
the  effect  of  abridging  the  interview  to  some  extent 
on  my  part,  at  least ;  for  I  felt  my  situation  grow- 
ing a  little  critical,  and  hinted  as  much  to  Mr.  Pope. 
I  took  occasion,  however,  to  reply  indirectly  to  a 
portion  of  Mr.  Johnson's  speech,  by  observing,  that 
as  Mr.  Pope  had  doubtless  some  recollection  of 
shipping  me  at  Rio  Janeiro,  he  also  knew  whether 
I  was  laboring  under  any  of  those  bodily  infirmities 
referred  to  by  his  brother  officer. 

Mr.  Pope  remarked  as  he  was  not  connected 
with  the  ship,  but  had  only  come  to  talk  the  matter 
over  with  me,  I  should  proceed  with  the  same 
freedom  as  if  talking  with  a  shipmate. 

"0  yes!"  interposed  Mr.  Johnson,  "let  him 
talk  till  he's  tired.  It  wont  do  us  any  hurt ;  and 
if  he  gets  too  saucy  or  obstreperous,  the  cats  will 
settle  him.  0  yes  !  let  him  talk  away." 

"  Well,  then,"  resumed  I,  "  as  you  encourage 
me  to  proceed,  I  shall  call  to  notice  a  few  circum- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        237 

etances  in  justification  of  my  conduct.  You  are 
perhaps  aware,  Mr.  Pope,  that  while  at  Rio  Janeiro, 
I  expressed  some  doubts  of  being  discharged,  at 
which  Commodore  Nicholson  hooted,  and  spoke  in 
quite  a  confident  manner  of  a  far  different  result. 
On  the  passage  to  the  United  States,  it  was  also  a 
thing  well  understood  among  the  officers,  and  fre- 
quently talked  of  among  them,  that  those  men 
who  had  shipped  in  South  America  were  all  to  be 
discharged;  and  you  are  further  aware  that  this 
belief  was  still  kept  alive,  and  cherished  in  the  minds 
of  the  men,  after  our  return  home,  and  up  to  the 
very  hour  when  orders  were  given  for  our  transfer 
to  the  North  Carolina.  The* it  was,  that  the  first 
doubts  arose  of  our  dismissal ;  and  you  are  well 
aware  that  the  following  night  was  attended  with 
the  desertion  of  thirty-seven  men,  all  of  whom 
would  unquestionably  have  run  away  sooner,  but 
for  the  prospect  held  out  of  obtaining  a  discharge." 

"Your  statement  may  be  correct,"  observed 
Mr.  Pope. 

"  Well  then,  after  these  men  had  been  kept  so 
long  in  the  hope  of  being  discharged,  was  it  right 
that  they  should  be  disappointed  ?" 

"  The  result  was  unavoidable,"  said  Mr.  Pope. 

"Well,  sir,,  admitting  that  it  was  unavoidable  at 
the  time,  was  it  wrong  for  us  to  make  any  subse- 
quent effort  for  our  release  ?" 

"  After  what  Commodore  Nicholson  had  done  for 
you,  all  further  efforts  on  your  part  were  useless." 


238       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  And  what  all  did  Commodore  Nicholson  do  for 
us  ?"  inquired  I. 

"  He  interceded  for  you  in  three  different  letters, 
Commodore  Renshaw  and  Captain  Gallagher  both 
aided  him ;  but  unfortunately  their  efforts  were 
not  successful." 

"  Mr.  Pope,"  answered  I,  with  all  the  decorum 
I  could  master,  "  It  may  appear  like  insolence  in 
me  to  contradict  an  officer,  but  I  have  positive 
proof  that  not  the  least  scratch  of  any  such  letter 
was  ever  transmitted  to  the  department." 

"  Call  him  a  liar  at  once  !  Call  him  a  liar  at 
once  !"  ejaculated  Mr.  Johnson,  bridling  up,  and 
flourishing  his  fists  oefore  my  face. 

"  From  what  quarter  do  you  derive  your  positive 
proof,  as  you  call  it,"  inquired  Mr.  Pope,  nodding 
to  the  enraged  Mr.  Johnson  to  desist. 

"From  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,"  replied  I. 

The  countenance  of  Mr.  Pope  at  once  fell,  and 
his  looks  became  gloomy.  Seeing  that  I  had  him 
in  a  kind  of  a  dilemma,  I  proceeded  to  explain  the 
manner  in  which  this  testimony  had  been  obtained 
from  the  Secretary.  On  adverting  to  the  fact  of  a 
letter  having  been  transmitted  from  the  Department 
to  Mr.  Long,  and  from  the  latter  gentleman  to  the 
Preble,  he  became  desirous  of  dropping  the  subject, 
and  though  I  offered  to  procure  the  letter  for  his 
particular  inspection,  he  said  it  was  unnecessary  to 
do  so,  as  he  had  not  time  to  peruse  it. 

"  I  have  only  one  more  remark  to  make  on  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        239 

subject,"  said  Mr.  Pope.  "  Had  you  never  written 
that  letter,  but  kept  quiet  and  exemplary  in  your 
conduct,  and  come  peaceably  to  me  and  requested 
your  discharge,  I  would  have  used  every  exertion 
to  obtain  it  for  you ;  but  since  you  have  chosen 
otherwise,  and  raised  silly  charges  to  blacken  the 
reputation  of  myself,  as  well  as  that  of  Commodore 
Nicholson — I  say,  under  the  circumstances,  I'll  be 

d d  if  I  do,"  and  Mr.  Pope  emphasized  his 

determination  by  smacking  his  fist  on  the  fiferail 
with  such  force,  that  an  iron  belaying  pin  jumped 
out  of  its  station,  and  tumbled  down  on  the  toe  of 
Lieutenant  Johnson,  who  went  hopping  across  the 
quarter-deck  with  one  foot  in  his  hand,  and  making 
as  many  grimaces  as  a  monkey  at  a  concert. 

"Mr.  Pope,"  answered  I,  while  replacing  the 
belaying  pin,  "  I  have  now  been  two  years  in  the 
service,  and  can  easily  weather  out  a  third.  Up 
to  the  present  time,  I  have  met  with  some  good 
treatment,  and  a  great  deal  that  I  considered 
harsh.  I  have  asked  but  few  favors  from  officers, 
and  those  few  have  seldom  been  granted ;  but  as  to 
my  discharge,  I  have  never  yet  solicited  you,  or 
any  other  officer  to  procure  it  for  me,  and,  come 
good  or  ill  of  my  words,  I  boldly  assert  that  I 
never  will !"  and  bowing  respectfully  to  my  official 
visitor,  who  turned  towards  the  cabin,  I  glided 
down  the  hatchway,  and  returned  to  my  duty  on 
the  lower  gun-deck. 

Having  now  abandoned  all  prospect  of  obtaining 


240        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

a  dismissal,  I  deemed  it  best  to  make  myself  as 
agreeable  and  useful  in  the  ship  as  my  position 
would  allow.  I  had  opportunities  of  going  occa- 
sionally on  shore  ;  but  as  these  jaunts  were  always 
attended  with  unnecessary  expense,  I  seldom  in- 
dulged in  them.  As  time  wore  on,  and  I  became 
better  accustomed  to  the  ship  and  her  officers,  I 
•was  so  well  contented  with  my  situation  that  I 
would  scarcely  have  exchanged  my  place  in  the 
Columbus  for  a  berth  in  any  sea-going  ship. 

During  my  second  month  in  the  ship,  I  was  un- 
expectedly called  on  to  take  charge  of  a  class  of 
some  eighteen  boys  in  the  schoolroom.  To  this  I 
objected  with  all  my  might,  and  adhered  to  my 
resolution  quite  perseveringly,  until  the  captain 
began  to  talk  about  gangways  and  cat-o'-nine-tails 
so  pathetically  that  I  was  moved  to  yield  the  point, 
and  accept  the  office  of  a  schoolmaster.  Every- 
body knows  that  bad  usage  and  bad  example  will 
make  bad  children,  and  I  had  been  wide  enough 
awake  to  discover,  without  the  aid  of  a  spy-glass, 
that  this  rule  held  good  at  sea  as  well  as  on  land. 
The  class  of  which  I  was  requested  to  take  charge 
was  composed  of  the  most  bulky  boys  in  the  ship, 
who  also  bore  the  reputation  of  being  the  most 
ungovernable.  Two  schoolmasters  had  already 
been  compelled  to  yield  to  them  the  unwilling  palm 
of  victory,  and  a  third  would  have  shared  a  similar 
fate,  had  he  not  baffled  his  juvenile  enemies  by  a 
timely  desertion  of  both  the  schoolroom  and  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.         241 

Columbus.  I  entered  as  the  fourth  incumbent  in 
the  administration  of  affairs;  and  having  made  an 
inaugural  address,  in  which  I  laid  down  a  brief 
exposition  of  the  principles  and  measures  by  which 
I  hoped  my  official  career  to  be  characterized,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  discharge  of  my  arduous  labors  with 
such  success,  that  for  two  whole  weeks  the  class 
remained  as  quiet  and  passive  under  my  superin- 
tendence as  if  no  revolution  had  ever  taken  place 
in  their  government. 

But  time  soon  developed  the  fact,  that  my 
administration  was  too  monarchical  for  the  demo- 
cratic tastes  of  my  youthful  subjects;  and,  like 
Louis  Philippe,  I  was  fated  to  see  my  power  totter- 
ing to  decay  at  the  very  hour  I  thought  it  most 
triumphantly  established.  But  like  Louis,  I  did 
nott  run — the  thought  of  deserting  my  throne  was 
infamy  to  my  courage.  I  resolved  to  stand  my 
ground,  and  brave  whatever  adverse  fortune  might 
"  buckle  on  my  back." 

.  One  day,  about  the  commencement  of  my  third 
week  of  mastership,  I  had  seated  myself  between 
two  guns  to  do  a  sum  in  arithmetic,  when  I  hap- 
pened to  overhear  the  boys  whispering ;  and 
glancing  my  eye  under  the  gun,  I  could  see  all 
that  was  passing  at  the  table  round  which  they 
were  sitting  without  being  seen  by  them. 

"  Jones,"  whispered  one  of  the  larger  boys  to  his 
companion  across  the  table,  "  how  would  you  like 
to  shoot  the  master  ?" 
21 


242       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  First-rate,  if  I  only  knew  how  to  get  hold  of  a 
pistol,"  observed  Jones. 

"  Just  creep  under  the  table,  to  this  side,  and 
get  one  out  of  my  pea-jacket  pocket,''  continued 
Greggs. 

Jones  proceeded  under  the  table  according  to 
directions,  and  drawing  a  bottle  from  the  pocket 
of  his  companion,  took  a  deliberate  sup  of  whiskey. 
I  rose  instantly  from  my  seat  between  the  guns, 
while  Jones  hastily  regained  his. 

"  Greggs,"  said  I,  leaning  over  the  table,  "  give 
me  your  pistol  till  I  take  the  priming  out,  or  you 
may  do  some  mischief  with  it." 

Greggs  demurred,  and  placed  his  hand  on  his 
pocket  to  hold  it  shut. 

"You  refuse,  do  you?"  said  I,  and  reaching 
over  the  table,  I  grasped  master  Greggs  by  the 
collar,  and  dragged  him  from  between  the  guns. 

This  appeared  to  be  a  signal  for  a  general  rebel- 
lion, as  the  whole  class  were  instantly  on  their 
feet,  and  surrounding  me  with  the  dexterity  of 'a 
swarm  of  bees.  Master  Greggs  had  grasped  me 
with  both  arms  round  my  left  leg,  and  was  doing 
his  prettiest  to  dance  me  about  the  deck  on  my 
right  toe,  while  the  pistol  shooter,  Jones,  was  using 
his  utmost  exertions  to  divest  me  of  my  ratan. 
Two  boys  had  caught  hold  of  my  arms,  but  finding 
their  strength  insufficient  to  pinion  them,  gave 
them  up  for  a  more  successful  assault  upon  my 
hair ;  and  soon  succeeding  in  drawing  my  head 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       243 

within  the  reach  of  the  smaller  boys,  a  third,  and 
fourth,  lent  me  a  deliberate  box  on  the  ear.  At 
this  stage  of  the  squabble,  master  Greggs  had 
become  so  far  victorious  as  to  dance  me  up  against 
one  of  the  guns,  when  Jones,  who  had  relieved  me 
of  the  ratan,  and  handed  it  over  to  one  of  the 
smaller  boys,  who  kept  favoring  me  with  an  occa- 
sional cut  from  it,  caught  me  by  the  other  leg,  and 
the  two  together  gave  me  such  a  hoist  as  pitched 
me  clear  over  the  gun,  and  landed  me  on  the 
opposite  side  with  my  shoulder  wedged  between 
two  shot  boxes,  and  my  heels  extended  upward  in 
the  air  where  my  head  ought  to  have  been.  The 
peculiarity  of  my  situation  raised  a  general  laugh 
throughout  the  schoolroom,  at  which  Greggs,  Jones 
and  company  took  fresh  courage,  and  recommenced 
the  battle.  The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in 
this  engagement  might  perhaps  have  been  more 
numerous,  had  it  not  been  unexpectedly  terminated 
by  the  first  lieutenant.  That  gentleman,  having 
been  alarmed  by  the  uproarious  turmoil  below 
deck,  hastened  to  tlie  scene  of  action  and  sounded 
a  parley.  At  the  sound  of  his  voice,  the  assailants 
fell  back  in  dismay,  while  he  set  on  foot  speedy, 
measures  for  investigating  the  object  of  the  bellige- 
rent powers.  In  the  meantime,  I  was  enabled  to 
gain  a  more  favorable  position  than  the  one  last 
occupied,  and  proceeded  to  a  diplomatic  arrange- 
ment of  the  quarrel. 

In  all  great  municipal  conflicts,  the  supremacy 


I 


244        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

of  the  law  requires  that  the  principal  offenders 
shall  expiate  their  crimes.  Greggs  and  Jones  were 
the  principal  offenders — they  had  suhverted  the 
legitimate  authority — they  had  taken  up  arms 
against  the  administration  —  they  had  shot  the 
master ;  and  the  public  peace,  as  well  as  the  pres- 
ervation of  discipline,  demanded  that  their  crimes 
be  visited  on  their  hea —  backs.  The  young  cul- 
prits were  consequently  sent  to  the  forward  part 
of  the  ship,  to  gun  number  45,  where  a  dozen  lashes 
were  inflicted  on  the  bare  person  of  each,  a  la  mode 
aposteriori. 

Nor  was  the  day  wholly  unpropitious  to  me.  A 
new  idea  had  opened  upon  me.  I  resolved  never 
more  to  flog  another  boy  in  the  ship,  but  whenever 
any  one  committed  an  offence  deserving  of  correc- 
tion, to  write  a  statement  of  it  on  a  slip  of  paper, 
and  send  it  by  the  offender  to  the  first  lieutenant, 
who  never  permitted  him  to  depart  unrewarded. 
From  the  adoption  of  this  rule,  my  empire  in  the 
schoolroom  became  complete.  Before  two  weeks 
more  had  elapsed,  there  was  n<ft  a  boy  in  the  class 
but  would  have  sooner  suffered  any  punishment  1 
would  have  ^inflicted  on  him,  than  have  carried  a 
pasg  to  the  first  lieutenant. 


NOTE. — The  government  becoming  sensible  of  the  defects  of  Uu» 
Apprentice"  system,  have  abolished  it. 


An  Unexpected  Journey. 

ALTHOUGH  my  duties  in  the  school-room  cut  me 
off  from  the  daily  companionship  of  my  old  associ- 
ates of  the  Preble,  they  did  not  lead  me  to  neglect 
them.  Night  usually  brought  with  it  a  momentary 
respite  from  labor,  when  there  would  be  a  re-union 
of  warm  and  generous  hearts.  At  such  times  we 
crept  silently  away  to  some  quiet  nook  in  the  ves- 
sel, and  there  in  happy  forgetfulness  of  over- 
watchful  discipline,  recounted  to  each  other  the 
many  hardships  and  gales  we  had  encountered 
through  life. 

From  February  until  May,  a  few  remarkable 
incidents  took  place  on  board  the  Columbus,  but  as 
I  was  not  immediately  interested  in  them,  I  shall 
consume  neither  time  nor  space  in  recording  them. 

About  the  first  of  May,  an  order  from  govern- 
ment was  received  at  Boston,  instructing  Commo- 
dore Downes  to  forward  as  many  seamen  to  the 
sloop  of  war  Fairfield,  then  lying  at  New  York,  as 
could  be  spared  from  his  command.  As  the  frigate 
Constellation,  and  the  sloop  Treble,  had  both  drawn 
21  *  ( 245 ) 


246        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  chief  bulk  of  their  crews  from  the  same  quarter 
during  the  preceding  winter,  there  was,  in  conse- 
quence, at  that  time,  but  a  scanty  surplus  of  men 
on  board  the  Columbus.  It  was  also  a  well  known 
fact,  that  those  men  who  had  formerly  belonged  to 
the  Preble,  had  most  of  them  but  a  few  months 
longer  to  serve,  and  that  the  usages  of  the  service, 
would  scarcely  warrant  the  government  in  again 
sending  them  abroad  on  a  foreign  station.  But 
notwithstanding  these  facts,  the  commodore  con- 
ceived it  necessary  to  have  the  Fa;rfield  manned  at 
all  hazards  :  and  ordering  twenty-one  able  seamen 
to  be  selected  from  the  crew  of  the  Columbus,  with- 
out regard  to  the  duration  of  their  term  of  service, 
it  fell  to  my  lot  to  be  numbered  among  this  draft. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  draft  was  mustered 
out,  myself  and  companions  were  ordered  upon  our 
journey  to  New  York.  We  took  a  hasty  leave  of 
the  old  Columbus ;  not,  however,  without  regret, 
and  amid  a  warm  shaking  of  hands,  and  a  general 
expression  of  the  good  wishes  of  our  old  shipmates 
for  our  continued  health  and  happiness. 

It  is  a  rule  of  discipline  in  the  American  navy, 
that  a  sailor  shall  never  be  trusted  one  rod  from 
the  ship,  unless  accompanied  by  an  officer,  as  it  is 
the  general  impression  that  such  a  mark  of  confi- 
dence must  otherwise  inevitably  end,  either  in  ab- 
solute desertion,  or  downright  drunkenness.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  also  a  rule  firmly  established 
among  sailors,  as  discipline  itself,  always  to  try  to 


FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        247 

outwit  their  superiors,  and  over-reach  their  vigi- 
lance. In  virtue  of  the  first  of  these  rules,  Lieu- 
tenant Johnson  of  the  Columbus,  and  two  midship- 
men, had  been  dispatched  with  us  to  New  York,  to 
guard  our  movements  and  keep  us  from  getting 
drunk ;  and  in  virtue  of  the  second,  it  was  the 
intention  of  two-thirds  of  my  companions  to  get  as 
drunk  as  Bacchus,  and  have  a  most  jolly  time  of  it. 
The  natural  result  of  these  two  opposing  rules  of 
discipline  was,  that  a  very  sharp  lookout  was  kept 
up  on  both  sides.  But,  though,  the  vigilance  of 
three  pairs  of  government  eyes  were  kept  constantly 
playing  upon  our  movements,  four  junk  bottles  of 
good  whiskey,  nevertheless,  found  their  way  into 
our  car  in  less  than  one  hour  after  our  departure 
from  'Boston,  all  of  which,  were  emptied  of  their 
contents  before  we  had  reached  Rhode  Island.  In 
crossing  the  ferry  at  Providence,  some  of  the  men, 
finding  themselves,  as  yet,  only  "  half  seas  over," 
inquired  for  liquor  at  the  bar  of  the  boat,  but  were 
told  by  the  bar-keeper,  that  the  vessel  was  a  tem- 
perapce  boat;  and  yet,  notwithstanding  this  infor- 
mation, Jack  Brown,  one  of  the  most  ingenious 
members  of  our  party,  contrived  to  play  around 
this  same  temperance  bar-keeper  so  effectually,  that 
he  got  two  of  his  empty  junk  bottles  filled  with 
brandy.  Jack  slipped  the  bottles  into  the  pocket 
of  his  pea-jacket,  and  took  his  stand  on  the  guard 
of  the  steamer,  a  few  paces  forward  of  the  wheel- 
house;  while  the  two  midshipmen  kept  walking 


248        FIVE  YEAIIS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

about  on  the  bow  deck,  in  order  to  be  ready  for 
gathering  up  their  troops  as  soon  as  the  boat  should 
touch  the  landing. 

Now,  whether  it  was  that  my  good-natured  ship- 
mate, Jack  Brown,  was  really  laboring  under  the 
influence  of  the  two  junk  bottles  in  his  pocket,  or 
whether  the  motion  of  the  temperance  boat  deran- 
ged his  equilibrium,  I  am  at  present  unable  to 
determine,  but  certain  it  is,  that  Jack  unexpectedly 
reeled  from  his  stand  on  the  guards,  and  though 
he  struck  out  his  hand  to  grasp  at,  what  he  suppo- 
sed to  be  a  stanchion  of  the  boat,  yet  there  was  no 
stanchion  there,  and  in  consequence  of  this  fatal 
mistake  on  the  part  of  the  boat-builder,  he  was  pre- 
cipitated headlong  into  the  waters  of  Providence 
bay. 

"  A  man  overboard !"  shouted  the  pilot. 

Lieutenant  Johnson  ran  to  the  rail  and  looked 
over  the  side. 

"It  is  Brown,"  cried  he.  "Bear  a  hand  this 
way,  my  lads,  and  throw  him  the  bite  of  a  line. 
Quick !" 

But,  unfortunately  for  Brown,  there  was  no  line 
just  at  hand,  and  the  poor  fellow  would  certainly 
have  become  food  for  the  fishes  had  not  Nelson 
Burce,  another  whole-souled  fellow  of  my  own 
mess,  become  excessively  alarmed  for  the  safety  of 
the  two  junk  bottles  of  brandy,  which  he  knew 
were  in  Brown's  pockets.  To  prevent  so  fatal  a 
loss,  he  instantly  threw  off  his  jacket,  and  plung- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        249 

ing  fearlessly  into  the  bay,  swam  to  the  assistance 
of  his  friend,  whose  head  he  succeeded  in  keeping 
above  water  until  both  were  finally  relieved  from 
their  perilous  situation  by  the  timely  assistance  of 
a  shore  boat. 

Having  succeded  in  getting  our  amphibious  ship- 
mates once  more  on  land,  and  our  baggage  and 
hammocks  stowed  safely  away  in  the  baggage-car, 
we  all  resumed  our  seats  in  the  train,  and  pitched 
ahead  on  the  western  portion  of  the  track,  as 
fast  as  steam  locomotion  could  carry  us.  It  was 
dark  when  we  arrived  at  Stonington,  where  we 
were  instantly  hurried  on  board  a  New  York 
steamer ;  and  after  eating  a  good  supper,  which 
Lieutenant  Johnson  had  the  liberality  to  procure  for 
us  on  board  the  boat,  we  were  left  to  amuse  our- 
selves as  best  we  could,  our  official  watchman  well 
knowing  that  there  could  be  no  such  thing  aa 
running  away  from  the  middle  of  Long  Island 
Sound. 

Leaving  my  companions  to  the  discussing  of 
their  two  bottles  of  brandy  on  the  bow  deck,  I 
walked  aft  into  the  vicinity  of  the  cabin,  and  leaned 
thoughtfully  over  the  rail  to  enjoy  for  a  brief  pe- 
riod the  quiet  of  the  evening,  which  was  beautifully 
serene.  The  waters  of  the  Sound  were  as  smooth 
and  silvery  as  the  glassy  surface  of  a  river,  while 
the  moon,  which  had  not  yet  filled  the  horns  of  her 
crescent,  cast  a  pale  and  mellow  light  over  the  vast 

expanse,  blending  together  the  heavens  and  the 
15 


250       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

nether  element  in  one  magnificent  scene  of  azure. 
As  I  continued  to  gaze  attentively  on  the  splendor 
of  the  skies  and  the  "white  foam  that  boiled  up 
from  behind  the  wheel-house,  my  thoughts  uncon- 
sciously wandered  homeward,  and  the  once  loved 
forms  of  mother  and  sisters  flitting  through  my 
fancy,  drew  from  my  breast  an  involuntary  sigh. 

"  A  beautiful  evening,"  said  a  lady's  voice  close 
behind  me. 

The  sudden  appearance  of  a  ghost  could  not 
have  startled  me  more  than  did  these  words,  and 
turning  hastily  around,  my  eyes  rested  on  the  fair 
face  of  the  speaker,  who  was  leaning  on  the  arm 
of  a  gentleman. 

"You  must  excuse  our  abruptness,"  said  the 
gentleman,  apologizing  pleasantly  for  the  shock 
they  had  occasioned  me.  "  It  was  not  our  inten- 
tion to  alarm  you." 

"  It  was  a  the  voice  of  the  lady,"  an- 
swered I,  scarcely  knowing  what  to  say.  "  It  is 
not  often  we  sailors  are  spoken  to  by  ladies,  and 
besides  ray  thoughts  were  at  the  moment  fixed  on 
the  recollections  of  home." 

"  A  moving  theme  for  the  reflections  of  those 
who  have  been  long  absent  from  their  friends," 
observed  the  gentleman  ;  "  and  long  absence  is 
a  misfortune  peculiar  to  a  sailor's  calling.  How 
long  have  you  been  from  home  ?" 

"Near  seven  years,"  answered  I. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  Seven  years  !  A  long  while,  indeed.  I  scarcely 
wonder  that  your  thoughts  recur  homeward." 

My  new  and  unexpected  acquaintance  continued 
to  press  the  conversation  until  he  drew  from  me  all 
the  particulars  in  regard  to  our  present  journey  to 
New  York,  and  a  brief  history  of  my  personal  ex- 
perience in  the  "Mess-Room"  of  Uncle  Sam.  As 
question  followed  question,  other  passengers  from 
the  cabin  were  collected  to  the  spot,  until,  in  a 
short  time,  I  found  myself  surrounded  by  a  crowd 
of  fashionable  ladies  and  gentlemen,  a?J  of  whom 
appeared  to  find  a  peculiar  pleasure  in.  rearing  a 
live  sailor  talk  with  a  fluency  of  langua/e  equal  to 
that  of  a  rational  landsman. 

"  Strange  !"  observed  a  lady  amon^  the  crowd, 
to  her  companion.  "  This  man  has  certainly  been 
accustomed  to  good  society." 

"  His  language,  at  least,  would  swam  to  imply  as 
much,"  responded  a  gentleman. 

*'  Just  so,"  observed  a  third  voice ;  "  and  I  would 
venture  the  assertion  that  his  friends  spared  no 
efforts  in  his  early  instruction." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  gentleman,"  said  I,  my 
vanity  receiving  a  sudden  inflation  from  their  ob- 
servations ;  "  but  it  has  been  my  constant  misfor- 
tune, from  infancy  to  manhood,  to  have  to  contend 
with  ignorance  and  poverty.  My  friends  were  too 
poor  to  do  any  thing  for  my  early  instruction. 
The  decks  of  the  whale-ship  and  of  tL<t> 


252        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

together  with  my  own  observation,  have  been  my 
only  schoolmaster." 

"What  are  you  doing  here,  you  rascal?"  ex- 
claimed Lieutenant  Johnson  in  a  harsh  voice,  shoul- 
dering his  way  among  the  passengers.  "Away 
with  you  to  the  forward  part  of  the  boat  where 
you  belong." 

I  marched  forward  in  double  quick  time,  while 
a  murmur  of  disapprobation  arose  among  the  pas- 
sengers in  respect  to  the  imperative  behavior  of 
Lieutenant  Johnson. 

On  the  following  morning  by  sunrise,  the  steamer 
had  made  her  way  to  the  East  river.  Many  of  the 
passengers  were  up  at  an  early  hour,  and  preparing 
their  toilet  for  a  respectable  entrance  into  the  great 
metropolis  of  the  western  world.  I  was  leisurely 
pacing  the  deck  a  short  distance  abaft  the  wheel- 
shaft,  and  casting  an  occasional  look  along  the 
placid  waters  of  the  river,  when  I  was  again  pleas- 
antly greeted  with  the  appearance  of  the  lady  and 
gentleman  who  had  caused  my  alarm  on  the  prece- 
ding night.  A  conversation  was  immediately  com- 
menced, in  which  the  young  lady,  as  well  as  her 
male  protector  participated. 

"  I  assure  you,"  said  my  new  acquaintance, 
referring  in  his  discourse  to  the  peremptory  lan- 
guage of  Lieutenant  Johnson  ;  "  I  and  Clara  both 
felt  indignant  at  the  abrupt  and  vulgar  manner  in 
which  you  were  dismissed.  Is  such  rudeness  to 
subordinates  common  among  naval  officers  ?" 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        253 

"Rudeness!"  echoed  I,  looking  the  gentleman 
in  the  face,  with  a  smile.  "  Did  you  consider  that 
rudeness  ?  why  I  regarded  it  as  being  moderately 
polite.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  presence  of  the 
ladies,  the  language  of  Mr.  Johnson  would  most 
probably  have  been  embellished  with  at  least  half  a 
dozen  of  the  most  nautical  oaths  and  curses  imagi- 
nable." 

My  new  friend  seemed  to  regret  deeply  that  offi- 
cial dignity  should  condescend  to  profanity  and 
absolute  vulgarity  ;  and  while  yet  giving  expression 
to  a  full  sense  of  his  feelings  on  the  subject,  he 
was  interrupted  by  the  compliments  of  the  morning 
offered  to  him,  by  a  gentleman  of  a  fine  benevolent 
countenance,  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  boat. 
Clara  and  her  protector  both  bowed  their  com- 
pliments in  return  to  their  fellow  traveller,  who, 
with  a  gracious  smile,  passed  onward  towards  the 
cabin. 

"  Do  you  know  that  gentleman  ?"  said  Clara  to 
me,  her  face  still  gleaming  with  the  satisfaction  hia 
smile  of  recognition  had  awakened. 

"I  have  no  recollection  of  ever  having  seen  him 
before,"  replied  I. 

"It  is  Mr.  Choat,"  remarked  the  gentleman. 

"  Senator  Choat,  of  Massachusetts  ?"  inquired  I. 

"The  same,"  replied  the  lady.  "I  thought,  as 
you  came  from  Boston,  you  might  perhaps  have 
seen  him  there." 

"You  must  be  aware,"  said  I,  laughing,  "  that 
22 


254        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

I  did  not  move  in  the  same  society  with  Mr. 
Choat." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  responded  the  lady,  with  a 
smile  ;  "  and  yet  there  are  doubtless  those  associa- 
ting in  the  same  circle  who  are  less  qualified  for 
the  distinction  than  yourself." 

"  Thank  you  for  your  favorable  opinion,"  said 
I,  with  a  bow  ;  "  but  I  am  not  ambitious  of  desi- 
ring such  a  distinction,  without  the  corresponding 
means  of  sustaining  it,  and  until  that  time  arrives, 
which  may  never  be,  I  shall  have  to  content  my- 
self with  that  kind  of  company,"  interrupted  I, 
nodding  towards  one  of  my  drunken  shipmates, 
who  at  that  instant  fell  over  the  wheel-shaft,  im- 
mersing his  head  in  a  bucket  of  water. 

"Hallo  here,  John  Brown  the  Baptist,  right  out 
of  Providence  bay  and  into  it  agin,"  shouted  one 
of  our  party,  raising  Brown  up,  and  putting  hia 
hat  on  his  head.  "I'll  be  hanged,  Burce,  if  he 
doesn't  take  to  salt  water  jist  as  nateral  as  a 
herrin'." 

"  He  always  did,  and  can't  be  broke  of  it,"  said 
Burce. 

"  He's  etarnally  capsizing,"  observed  an  old 
quarter-gunner,  named  Sam  Frost.  "  Blast  your 
eyes,  Brown,"  added  he,  shaking  the  fallen  man 
by  the  shoulder,  "you  ort  to  take  ballast  aboard 
to  steady  you." 

"D — n  em'  bugger  you  an'  your  ballast,"  re- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       25,5 

torted  Brown,  hiccupping.  "  Havn't  I  been  takin* 
it  aboard  all  night?" 

"Ay,  ay,  to  be  sure  you  have,  you  lubber!" 
proceeded  Frost.  "  But  you  take  it  in  at  top, 
instead  of  bottom.  You'll  never  be  able  to  carry 
a  steady  boom  that  way." 

As  I  had  no  desire  to  listen  to  the  nautical  dis- 
course of  my  shipmates,  or  to  hear  such  casual 
remarks  as  the  citizen  passengers  might  feel  dis- 
posed to  make  on  their  conduct,  I  walked  behind 
the  wheelhouse,  and  found  a  momentary  amuse- 
ment in  watching  the  receding  points  of  land  that 
bounded  the  extent  of  the  waters,  as  the  boat  glided 
rapidly  by  them.  My  new  acquaintance,  as  if 
determined  to  monopolize  my  company  while  he 
remained  on  the  boat,  soon  reappeared  at  my  side. 
We  were  then  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hellgate, 
and  he  entertained  me  with  a  description  of  the 
surrounding  country,  the  several  channels  of  the 
river  in  the  celebrated  pass,  as  well  as  the  currents 
of  the  water  at  different  stages  of  the  tide.  In  the 
midst  of  our  discourse,  we  were  interrupted  by  the 
Bound  of  the  breakfast  bell. 

As  my  fellow-traveller  departed  to  the  cabin,  one 
of  the  midshipmen  came  to  me  and  told  me  that 
Lieutenant  Johnson  was  willing  that  the  men 
should  eat  their  meals  on  board  the  boat,  provided 
they  paid  for  it  themselves.  Believing  Uncle  Sarn 
in  duty  bound  to  furnish  me  my  rations  at  all  times 
while  wearing  the  livery  of  his  "mess-room,"  I 


25G       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

had  no  inclination  to  sustain  Mr.  Johnson's  pro- 
viso, by  the  payment  of  half  a  dollar  out  of  my 
own  pocket,  and  hence  declined  taking  breakfast. 
Some  of  the  party,  who  were  less  tenacious  on  the 
score  of  cash,  or  who  anticipated  some  strange  sort 
of  satisfaction  from  rendering  their  awkwardness 
conspicuous  to  the  gentry  at  the  cabin  table,  ac- 
cepted the  conditions ;  and-  though  Lieutenant 
Johnson  paid  the  bill,  yet  the  fifty  cents  were  sub- 
sequently footed  up  to  each  man's  account,  after 
his  arrival  on  board  the  Fairfield. 

By  the  time  breakfast  was  over,  Blackwell's 
Island  had  been  passed,  and  the  noble  steamer 
was  bearing  rapidly  down  into  the  vicinity  of  New 
York.  The  passengers  began  to  crowd  the  deck 
on  all  sides.  Much  congratulation  and  shaking  of 
hands,  in  anticipation  of  their  approaching  separa- 
tion, was  every  where  perceptible  among  them. 
Directing  my  looks  to  seaward,  my  eyes  caught  a 
glimpse  of  the  sloop  Fairfield.  She. was  moored 
in  the  East  river,  near  half  a  mile  south  of  the 
Battery;  her  graceful  hull  and  web-like  shrouds, 
together  with  her  lofty  and  symmetrical  spars, 
forming  across  the  horizon  a  picture  of  such  grace 
and  beauty  as  could  not  fail  of  arousing  in  the 
bosom  of  a  sailor  a  feeling  of  admiration. 

"You  appear  to  be  inspecting  your  new  home," 
said  my  gentleman  acquaintance,  once  more  ap- 
proaching me  in  company  with  his  charge,  and 
speaking  as  if  divining  my  thoughts. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       257 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I.  smiling,  and  still  looking 
in  the  direction  of  the  vessel ;  "  in  less  than  half  an 
hour  from  the  present  time,  that  ship  will  have 
become  my  home  for  the  space  of  ten  months  at 
least." 

"Are  you  then  going  to  part  with  us  immedi- 
ately ?"  said  the  lady.  "  I  was  telling  uncle  that 
you  might  perhaps  go.  on  shore  in  the  city,  and  how 
pleasant  it  would  be  to  have  your  company  at  our 
home." 

"  I  can  feel  grateful  for  your  intended  kindness, 
even  without  enjoying  it,"  answered  I,  strangely 
moved  at  such  generous  condescension  towards  an 
humble  sailor,  whose  very  uniform  made  him  scouted 
by  the  mass  of  society.  u  But  no,  no  ;  I  shall  not 
.  get  on  shore.  I  see  there  are  boats  now  coming 
from  the  Fairfield.  They  are  apprized  of  our 
arrival,  and  will  be  at  the  landing  to  receive  us." 

"  May  you  not,  however,  be  in  the  city  before 
the  ship  goes  to  sea  ?"  inquired  the  gentleman. 

"  Perhaps  I  might  get  leave  of  absence," 
answered  I. 

**  Then  you  must  call  at  our  house,"  interposed 
Clara.  "  Uncle,"  added  she,  drawing  a  card  from 
a  small  pocket-case,  "  what  is  the  number  where 
you  have  ordered  our  rooms  ?" 

u  The  address  is  in  my  trunk,"  answered  the 
gentleman  ;  "  but  he  can  ascertain  the  place  from 
our  friends  in  Broadway." 

"  True,"  observed  the  lady,  writing  with  a  pen- 
22* 


258       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

cil  on  the  card,  and  handing  it  to  me.  "  Inquire 
there,  whenever  you  visit  the  city,  and  you  will 
find  us." 

The  steamer  touched  the  wharf  at  that  instant, 
and  there  was  a  general  rush  of  the  passengers  for 
the  shore.  My  new  acquaintances  both  extended 
their  hands  to  bid  me  farewell,  but  were  simulta- 
neously separated  from  me  by  the  crowd.  The 
midshipmen  were  running  fore  and  aft,  calling  out 
the  names  of  the  men,  and  hurrying  all  hands, 
drunk  and  sober,  together  with  their  bags  and 
hammocks,  into  the  Fan-field's  boats ;  while  Lieu- 
tenant Johnson,  in  the  meantime,  had  taken  up 
his  station  on  the  wharf,  to  prevent  the  egress  of 
such  of  our  little  party  as  might  be  disposed  to 
take  French  leave.  Amid  the  general  confusion 
of  the  moment,  I  did  not  pause  to  read  the  super- 
scription on  the  card  of  Clara,  but  placed  it  hastily 
in  my  pocket-book,  which  I  slipped  loosely  into  my 
jacket-pocket.  As  soon  as  the  boat  had  shoved 
clear  of  the  steamer,  I  began  to  search  for  my 
card,  when — lo  and  behold !  my  pocket-book,  to- 
gether with  the  card,  and  one  dollar  and  seventy- 
five  cents  in  money  had,  no  doubt,  found  its  waj 
into  the  slippery  fingers  of  some  slippery  pick- 
pocket. 

"Burce,  by  thunder,I've  been  robbed !"  exclaimed 
I,  to  that  worthy,  who  shared  a  seat  with  me  in  the 
stern  sheets  of  the  boat. 

"  So  have  I,"  observed  Burce,  coolly. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       259 

"What  have  you  lost  ?"  inquired  I. 

"  Brown  stole  my  bottle  !" 

"No  matter,  so  you  got  the  liquor,"  said  I. 

"  That's  'the  <Jevil  of  it !  He  drunk  the  liquor, 
and  smashed  the  bottle,"  answered  Burce. 

"  Well,  its  a  bad  wind  that  blows  nobody  any 
good.  What's  your  loss  is  his  gain.  He  only  stole 
what  he  could  drink,  but  I've  lost  my  money,  and 
the  thief  can't  drink  that,  you  know  ?" 

"May  be  not,"  said  Burce,  "but  he  can  take 
the  money  you  saved  on  your  breakfast  this  morn- 
ing, and  buy  a  quart  of  brandy  with  it." 

"  Very  consoling,  Burce !  You're  as  deep  in 
philosophy  as  I  am,  and  so  we'll  square  yards  with 
each  other." 

In  ten  minutes  more  we  were  alongside  the  Fair- 
field.  I  was  the  first  to  mount  by  the  manropes, 
and  as  I  gained  the  hammock  nettings,  I  made  a 
pause,  and  glanced  my  eye  to  the  forecastle,  where 
the  boatswain  was  engaged  in  squaring  the  yards. 
It  was  Mr.  Edgar.  "  Can  it  be  possible,"  exclaimed 
I,  mentally,  "  that  I  am  to  come  again  within  reach 
of  that  rascal !"  Still  staring  at  the  boatswain,  I 
did  not  notice  that  the  gangway  ladder  had  been 
removed  for  the  purpose  of  being  holystoned,  and 
making  one  step,  down  went  myself,  bag,  ham- 
mock and  all,  sprawling  and  spluttering,  on  the 
unswabbed  decks  of  the  Fairfield. 

"  Avast  there,  shipmate !  you'd  better  clew  up 
your  sails,  or  you'll  be  boardin'  us  here  by  the  run," 


260       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

exclaimed  an  old  sailor,  picking  up  my  hammock. 
On  looking  up,  I  recognized  in  the  face  of  the 
speaker  an  old  quarter-master,  who  had  formerly 
served  with  me  in  the  Independence.  In  an  in- 
stant I  had  regained  my  feet. 

"  Are  you  hurt  ?"  inquired  he,  twisting  his  eyes 
about  my  person,  as  if  trying  to  identify  me. 

"  Why  Hull !  blast  your  old  eyes,  how  do  you 
do  ?  Are  you  alive  yet  ?  I  thought  you  had  gone 
to  'kingdom  come'  long  ago  !  Give  me  your  flip- 
per, you  old  sea  elephant,  till  I  shake  the  kinks 
out  of  your  knuckles.  Hurt,  did  you  say  ?  No. 
"  Sound  enough  at  bottom,  but  a  little  out  of  trim 
here,"  added  I,  pointing  with  my  finger  to  my 
head. 

"Nater!  nater  !"  cried  my  old  friend,  shaking 
me  warmly  by  the  hand  ;  "  I  never  tack  three  times 
into  a  grogshop  myself,  but  what  I  git  the  same 
feelin' ;  and  then  I  turn  keel  up,  and  drag  out,  with 
guards  under,  in  the  lee  scuppers." 

«« No,  no,  'tis'nt  that  I  mean,  Hull,"  said  I ;  "  for 
I  don't  like  the  '  critter'  well  enough  to  cruise  after 
it.  But  I  had  just  got  a  sight  at  your  boatswain, 
when  I  upsot.  It  took  me  all  aback  in  my  mind. 
I  thought  when  he  left  Boston,  we  should  always 
Bail  clear  of  each  other,  but  I  find  that  I  have  over- 
hauled him  again." 

"  You  mean  Mr.  Edgar  ?  Yes,  yes,  I  did  hear 
he  war'nt  so  well  liked  in  the  Columbus ;  but  it's 


FIYE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       261 

best  to  keep  a  bright  eye  to  windward,  for  he  car- 
ries a  high  press  of  sail  here." 

"  Does  he  ?  Oh  !  then  I  shall  be  as  polite  as  a 
dancing  master,  and  take  my  first  lesson  in  dissem- 
bling now ;  for  I  perceive  he  is  coming  this  way,  to 
see,  perhaps,  how  many  of  his  old  friends  are 
among  our  party." 

The  side  ladder  having  been  replaced,  our  whole 
party  descended  to  the  deck  ;  and  having  deposited 
their  bags  and  bedding  on  the  booms,  stood  grouped 
together  in  the  larboard  gangway ;  while  the  men 
of  the  Fairfield,  in  the  meantime,  busied  themselves 
in  swabbing  up  the  decks.  As  Edgar  approached 
the  mainmast,  he  paused  an  instant,  directly  in  front 
of  us,  and  after  surveying  each  man  deliberately 
greeted  us  in  his  own  peculiar  way. 

"  Good  mornin,  boys — pleasant  time  in  the 
steamer,  I  reckon — eight  bells — -jist  in  time  for 
grog,  boys,"  said  Edgar,  in  whose  mind  drinking 
grog  was  at  all  times  an  object  of  paramount  con- 
sideration to  any  other  duty. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Edgar,"  said  I,  extending 
my  hand. 

"  How  dy  do  !"  exclaimed  he,  shaking  it  emphat- 
ically. "Blast  my  eyes,  if  this  an't  clever — always 
like  to  shake  hands  with  an  old  friend — stirs  up 
one's  bilge  water,  don't  it?" 

"Hypocrite!"  thought  I,  as  he  spoke.  "How 
I  would  like  to  have  you  on  shore,  and  subscribe 
my  mark  of  friendship  on  your  nose ;"  but  smoth- 


262       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  TILE  MAST. 

ering  ray  feelings,  I  asked  him  how  he  got  on  in 
his  new  station.  "  Jam  up — would'nt  give  the  lit- 
tle craft  for  two  old  Columbus',''  and  putting  his 
call  to  his  mouth,  the  little  boatswain  waddled  off, 
piping  all  hands  to  the  double  duty  of  grog  and 
breakfast. 

On  descending  with  my  clothes-bag  to  the  berth- 
deck,  my  looks  wandered  fore  and  aft,  scanning 
the  spaciousness  of  the  vessel's  hull,  as  is  usual 
with  seamen  who  comprehend  the  usefulness  and 
convenience  of  a  roomy  ship.  Before  I  had  com- 
pleted my  survey,  my  eyes  rested  on  the  master's 
mate,  who  was  figuring  away  at  a.  small  desk,  on 
the  larboard  side  of  the  main  hold,  and  directing 
an  occasional  sentence  to  the  master-at-arms,  who 
occupied  a  campstool  about  one  fathom  on  his  right 
hand.  I  had  certainly  beheld  the  countenance  of 
the  master's-mate  before,  but  where,  or  when,  had 
entirely  slipped  my  memory.  I  looked,  and  looked, 
but  with  no  better  recollection. 

"  Hull,"  Eaid  I,  to  the  old  quarter-master,  who 
hung  near  me,  as  if  fearful  of  losing  my  company 
to  breakfast ;  "  who  the  devil  is  master's-mate  here  ? 
If  it  was'nt  for  the  Buffalo-robe  whiskers  yon  chap 
wears,  I  should  swear  it  was  Jerry  Tripp  ?" 

"You  may,  if  you  choose,  swear  it  any  how; 
whiskers  or  no  whiskers,"  said  Hull.  "Only  you 
must  kick  the  Jerry  overboard,  and  call  him  Mr. 
Tripp;  for  the  captain  has  put  a  handle  to  his 
name." 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        268 

"  Oh  !  very  well,  then,  overboard  it  goes  ;  and 
BO,  good  by  to  Jerry  Tripp,  and  welcome  Mr.  Tripp. 
How  are  you  Mr.  Tripp  ?"  added  I,  approaching 
the  desk,  and  addressing  the  newly  made  officer. 

"  Good  mornin',"  said  Mr.  Tripp,  rolling  up  his 
eyes,  and  staring  me  vacantly  in  the  face.  "  I  be- 
lieve you — a — have  the  advantage  of  me  ? — a — yes 
no — yes — no  you  hav'nt  nether,  I  guess  I've  seen 
you  afore,  hav'nt  I?" 

"  Quite  likely,"  said  I ;  "  for  I  sailed  with  yon 
in  the  Independence." 

"  In  the  Independence  !  Oh  !  a — yes,  under 
Commodore  Nicholson — yes,  I  was  in  the  Inde- 
pendence !  Well,  what  do  you  want?1' 

"  0!  nothing  of  importance,  but  my  discharge," 
answered  I.  "  And  you  can  do  nothing  towards 
procuring  me  that.  Nothing  from  nothing  and 
how  much  remains,  Hull  ?"  said  I,  to  the  old  quarter- 
master, as  I  turned,  with  a  wink,  from  Mr.  Tripp. 

"  Five  naval  buttons  with  a  swallow-tailed  coat !" 
said  Hull,  chuckling  at  the  manner  in  which  my 
compliments  had  been  met  by  the  inflated  Mr. 
Jeremiah  B.  Tripp. 

With  a  hearty  laugh  at  the  mingled  pride  and 
ignorance  of  the  puny  officer,  who  now  sought 
sedulously  to  hold  himself  aloof  from  the  com- 
panionship of  his  former  associates,  Hull  and  I 
repaired  to  our  breakfast,  which  the  cook  of  the 
mess  had  that  morning  spread  for  us  under  the 
lop-gallant  forecastle. 


In  which  the  Jour.  Shoemaker  finds  himself  destined  for  a  distant 
portion  of  the  world. 

THE  first  two  weeks  following  our  arrival  on 
board  the  Fairfield,  were  mostly  spent  in  organizing 
the  crew,  making  out  the  watch,  quarter  and  station 
bills,  exercising  occasionally  at  making  and  taking 
in  sail,  and  at  small  arms.  My  station  was  on  the 
forecastle,  and  in  the  larboard  watch.  Captain 
Tattnall,  impressed  with  the  belief  that  I  had  not 
followed  the  sea  long  enough  to  perform  able  sea- 
man's duty,  had  me  placed  on  the  station  bills  as 
an  ordinary  seaman,  notwithstanding  I  had  drawn 
seaman's  pay  and  done  seaman's  duty,  both  in  the 
Preble  and  the  Columbus.  I  might  have  started  ob- 
jections at  thus  being  disrated  without  just  cause, 
but  refrained  from  doing  so,  from  fear  of  thrusting 
my  head  into  hot  water.  I  had  sufficient  sagacity 
to  discover  that  our  captain  was  not  possessed  of 
the  most  amiable  temper  in  the  world ;  and  the  first 
lieutenant,  Mr.  Whittle,  a  tall,  lean  man,  with 
dark  hair,  dark  eyes,  and  skin  of  the  same  hue, 
had  managed,  during  my  first  five  days  of  service, 
to  single  me  out  as  an  object  of  his  most  particular 
dislike.  Under  these  circumstances,  it  became  rae 
(264) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  TUB  MAST.        265 

to  toe  the  mark  of  discipline  with  such  scrupulous 
exactness  as  could  leave  no  room  for  cats,  OP 
caterwauling. 

About  the  18th  of  May  we  hove  up  our  anchors, 
and  sailed  out  of  New  York  harbor.  But  very 
few,  if  any,  of  the  foremast  hands  knew  anything 
definite  concerning  the  place  of  our  destination. 
Some  expressed  themselves  as  being  quite  certain 
that  we  were  out  for  the  coast  of  Africa,  while 
others  maintained  with  equal  confidence  that  we 
were  bound  for  the  West  Indies ;  and  a  few  were 
impressed  with  the  belief  that  we  were  destined 
for  the  coast  of  Brazil,  to  relieve  the  ship  Marion, 
which  vessel  had  been  reported  in  a  sinking  condi- 
tion, and  was  then  hove  down  at  Rio  Janeiro  to 
undergo  repairs.  Contrary,  however,  to  the  pre- 
dictions of  all  these  sea  prophets,  the  vessel,  in  a 
few  days  breasted  her  way  into  the  mouth  of 
Chesapeake  bay,  doubled  Cape  Henry,  and  soon 
afterwards,  we  dropped  our  anchor  at  Hampton 
Roads,  in  Virginia.  Here  we  found  the  Delaware 
ship  of  the  line,  bearing  the  broad  pennant  of 
Commodore  Morris,  and  destined  as  the  flag  ship 
of  the  Brazilian  squadron. 

It  was  now  becoming  pretty  evident  to  all  hands, 
that  the  coast  of  Brazil  was  ultimately  to  become 
our  place  of  destination.  This  result,  to  which 
events  seemed  rapidly  concurring,  certainly  af- 
forded me  some  very  peculiar  reflections.  It  was 

in  Brazil  that  I  had  shipped  in  the  American  navy, 
23 


266        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"with  no  other  object  in  view,  than  that  of  returning 
to  the  United  States ;  and  now,  after  having  trav- 
ersed the  Atlantic  ocean  on  both  sides  of  the  equa- 
tor, from  the  Bio  La  Plata,  to  Labrador,  I  was 
likely,  at  the  end  of  three  years,  to  come  out — 
i.ike  Col.  Crocket,  in  his  congress  speech — at 
the  same  hole  I  went  in  at.  I  had,  however, 
two  ideas  with  which  to  console  my  feelings,  and 
which  doubtless  restrained  me  from  committing  any 
act  of  extravagance.  One  was,  that  there  was  no 
use  in  grumbling,  and  the  other  was,  that  all  the 
grumbling  I  could  possibly  do,  would  not  change 
the  destination  of  the  vessel.  But  circumstances 
of  an  unforseen  character,  delayed  the  sailing  of 
the  squadron,  and  eventually  worked  a  change  in 
the  intended  movements  of  the  Fairfield. 

About  this  time  certain  sharp-eyed  New  Yorkers 
fixed  their  clutches  on  a  somewhat  notorious  person- 
age, named  McLeod,  who  had  led  the  depredations 
on  the  steamer  Caroline,  during  the  late  insurrec- 
tion in  Canada.  He  was  no  sooner  imprisoned  than 
the  British  authorities  demanded  his  release ;  but 
this  the  Yorkers  refused  to  grant,  grounding  their 
objections  on  the  plea,  that  the  depredations 
had  been  committed  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
their  state.  The  British  government  began  imme- 
diately, on  this  refusal,  to  talk  of  war ;  and  Brother 
Jonathan,  to  show  his  spunk,  began  to  talk  of  war 
also.  As  a  natural  consequence  of  the  quarrel,  a'n 
angry  correspondence  was  soon  originated,  between 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       267 

foreign  diplomatists  and  native  diplomatists,  ac- 
companied with  such  a  hostile  scatterment  of  ink, 
as  seemed  to  darken  the  political  atmosphere  of  both 
countries.  Under  this  gloomy  aspect  of  affairs, 
Captain  Tattnall  determined  to  show  to  the  world 
in  general,  and  to  little  Hampton  in  particular, 
what  he  could  do ;  and  ordering  up  on  deck,  all 
the  old  hogsheads,  and  empty  barrels  that  could  be 
found  about  the  ship's  hold,  he  had  them  anchored 
out  in  the  stream,  and  casting  loose  the  big  guns, 
set  the  sailors  to  work  in  shooting  the  heads  out  of 
them.  Then  commenced  such  a  cannonading  as 
never  before  shook  the  timbers  of  the  old  Fairfield. 
The  Virginia  negro  fishermen  stood  aghast  in  their 
boats — the  blackbirds  fled,  screaming  from  the 
shores  of  the  bay,  and  buried  themselves  in  the 
hidden  recesses  of  the  forests ;  while  the  lobsters 
and  bottle-fish,  alarmed  at  the  terrible  commotion, 
dove  violently  away  to  the  sandy  beds  of  .the  ocean, 
fearful  and  trembling,  as  if  heaven  and  earth  were 
being  torn  asunder.  Oh!  it  was  an  awful  time  to 
everybody  in  the  ship,  and  particularly  so  to  me, 
who  had  always  found  it  hard  enough  work  to  ex- 
ercise uncharged  guns,  without  the  additional  ac- 
companiment of  shot,  catridges,  wads,  hemp,  pitch, 
tar,  grease,  sweat,  dirt,  powder,  grape  and  all  the 
complex  et  cetera  of  death,  havoc,  toil,  filth  and  de- 
struction. But,  notwithstanding,  it  was  a  foretaste 
of  war,  and  we  must  go  it,  and  go  it  we  did,  with  a 
perfect  rush. 


268        FIVE  YEAKS  BKFOUE  THE  MAST. 

"  Boarders,  away,  on  the  larboard  bow !"  shouted 
the  captain  through  the  speaking  trumpet. 

And  away  ran  every  man,  armed  with  a  cutlass, 
boarding  pike,  or  pistol,  presenting  himself  at  the 
point  of  attack  in  such  warlike  array,  that  it  ia 
questionable  whether  a  line  of  forty  sail  of  the 
enemy,  would  have  been  entirely  safe  from  an  as- 
sault, had  they  been  there. 

"  Here,  he's  boarding  us  on  the  starboard  quar- 
ter !"  again  roared  the  captain. 

To  prevent  the  consummation  of  this  threaten- 
ing manoeuvre,  the  marines,  in  a  solid  phalanx, 
flew  to  the  rescue,  darting  their  bayonets  over  the 
starboard  quarter  gallery,  in  such  threatening  atti- 
tude, as  held  the  enemy  at  momentary  bay.  Mean- 
while, the  sailors  tumbled  down  from  the  top 
gallant  forecastle,  heels  over  head,  and  thundering 
aft  along  the  gangways  in  the  most  delightful  con- 
fusion, arrived  at  the  designated  point,  before  the 
unyielding  marines  had  been  repelled  one  inch 
from  their  feeble,  though  resolute  position.  After 
a  desperate  hand  to  hand  conflict  of  ten  seconds, 
during  which  the  ghosts  of  twice  that  number  of 
McLeods,  had  ceased  forever  to  haunt  the  shores 
of  Virginia,  the  brave  Fairfielders  succeeded  in 
driving  the  enemy  beyond  their  reach,  and  falling 
quickly  back  on  the  quarter-deck,  each  man  stood 
apart,  puffing  and  blowing  with  the  noise  of  an 
half  exhausted  bellows.  By  this  time  the  enemy, 
who  persisted  in  being  invisible  to  all  eyes  except 


FIVE  YEAT:S  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        2G9 

those  of  the  commander,  was  compelled  to  resort 
once  more  to  his  guns  ;  and  the  captain,  believing 
that  a, well  directed  broadside  would  now  finish 
him,  ordered  it  to  be  poured  into  him  with  a  will. 
The  panting  but  unflinching  crew  rushed  once 
more  to  the  guns ;  for  an  instant  the  heavy  shot 
were  heard  rumbling  down  their  iron  throats,  and 
then  a  roar  louder  than  the  dread  artillery  of  heaven 
burst  from  stem  to  stern  of  the  brave  Fail-field, 
enveloping  her  masts  and  rigging  in  a  cloud  of 
smoke.  Victory  danced  on  the  banners  of  the 
Yankees.  It  was  all  up  with  the  old  hogsheads. 
They  raised  their  venerable  bottoms  towards  the 
heavens  in  dying  despair,  and  then  sank  slowly 
beneath  the  silent  waters,  never  to  rise  again. 

The  battle  over,  we  were  all  called  aft  on  the 
quarter-deck,  where  the  captain  addressed  us  in  a 
glowing  speech,  burning  with  the  most  sparkling 
fires  of  patriotism.  He  alluded,  with  touching 
emphasis,  to  the  sturdy  bravery  of  our  revolu- 
tionai-y  fathers,  the  bright  and  unexampled  career 
of  Washington,  the  energetic  calmness  of  Hull, 
and  the  indomitable  courage  of  Decatur.  Nor  did 
he,  in  his  review  of  American  braves,  pass  unno- 
ticed the  bright  names  that  cast  their  light  over 
the  histories  of  other  nations.  The  achievements 
of  Rodney,  the  conquests  of  Howe,  the  exploits 
of  Duncan,  and  the  world-renowned  victories  of 
Nelson,  were  all  in  turn  dwelt  upon  with  moving 
eloquence,  and  finally  the  whole  catalogue  of  glori- 
23* 


270         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

ous  names,  was  happily  trumped  home  with  that  of 
the  Dutch  admiral,  Von  Tromp.  The  speech  told 
vrith  wonderful  effect  on  the  sailors,  who  from 
time  to  time  evinced  their  approbation,  by  repeated 
"  hurrahs,"  and  when  the  captain  finally  concluded 
the  best  part  of  it,  which  consisted  of  an  order  for 
five  gallons  of  whiskey  to  be  divided  among  the 
crew,  under  the  technical  name  of  "  splicing  the 
main  brace,"  all  hands  threw  up  their  hats  in  a 
perfect  blaze  of  enthusiasm,  and  gave  three  such 
deafening  cheers,  that  a  landsman  would  have  sup- 
posed them  flushed  with  a  victory  of  having 
thrashed  a  fleet  of  forty  English  frigates. 

With  amusements  of  this  description,  we  con- 
tinued to-  entertain  ourselves  while  we  remained  at 
Hampton  Roads.  To  the  officers,  they  were  per- 
haps, capital  fun,  and  the  captain  seemed  to  enjoy 
them  with  peculiar  satisfaction ;  but  in  general 
they  were  most  heartily  detested  by  the  majority 
of  the  men,  who  looked  upon  them  as  so  much 
labor  and  exertion  thrown  away  on  a  profitless 
issue.  There  was  not  a  sailor  among  them  but 
would  rather  have  grappled  hand  to  hand  with  the 
most  daring  enemy,  than  toil  and  sweat  amid  the 
labors  of  a  phantom  conflict.  They  were  also 
conscious  that  these  exercises  were  of  but  little 
benefit  to  the  government  as  well  as  to  themselves. 
Powder  and  shot  could  not  be  procured  by  the 
government  without  money,  and  to  waste  them 
uselessly  was  like  throwing  cash  out  of  the  port- 


FIVE  TEARS  BEFORE  TITE  MAST.       271 

holes  into  the  sea.  The  McLcod  war  on  the  Fair- 
field  alone,  must  have  cost  the  government  a  snug 
little  sum  of  money,  as  the  quantity  of  amunition 
consumed  by  us  during  the  two  months  we  lay  at 
Hampton  Roads,  amounted  to  near  three  thousand 
pounds  of  powder,  and  some  eight  thousand  pounds 
of  round  shot,  all  of  which  was  sent  to  "  Davy 
Jones'  Locker,"  in  the  waters  of  the  Roadstead. 

While  these  occurrences  were  transpiring  in 
Virginia,  a  scene  of  a  different  nature,  but  equally 
singular  in  character,  was  being  enacted  in  another 
portion  of  the  world.  It  happened  that  a  rumor 
of  the  anticipated  war  with  England  had  found  its 
way  to  the  Mediterranean  sea.  There  were  several 
British  steamers  just  then  cruising  on  those  waters, 
and  the  idea  of  having  a  brush  with  Brother  Jona- 
tean,  putting  mischief  into  the  head  of  one  of 
them,  caused  her  to  look  with  a  hungry  eye  at  the 
gridiron  banner  of  the  American  frigate  Brandy- 
wine.  Now,  whether  it  was  that  the  British  stea- 
mer actually  fired  at  the  Brandywine,  or  whether 
she  only  intended  to  fire,  or  whether  Commodore 
Bolton  only  thought  she  was  going  to  fire,  are 
questions  which  circumstances  have  rendered  so 
mysterious  that  I  will  not  try  to  decipher  them. 
It  is  sufficient  for  the  reader  to  know  that  some- 
thing was  done  to  the  alarm  of  the  American  ves- 
sel, for  she  secretly  slipped  from  her  moorings,  and 
Bnuffing  the  western  gale,  put  out  of  the  gut  of 
Gibraltar  with  all  her  might,  as  if  the  old  boy  had 


272        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

kicked  her  astern,  and  kept  pitching  and  tossing 
across  the  Atlantic  ocean  with  such  unconquerable 
velocity  that  Commodore  JBolton,  with  his  whole 
crew,  found  himself  entirely  unable  to  bring  her 
to  a  halt  until  she  had  run  almost  totally  aground 
in  the  harbor  of  New  York. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  to  describe  the  conster- 
nation of  the  general  government,  on  hearing  of 
their  Mediterranean  commander  having  been  run 
away  with  by  the  frigate  Brandywine,  and  that,  too. 
at  a  time  when  the  interests  of  the  country  par- 
ticularly required  his  presence  on  that  station.  A 
general  surprise  also  arose  in  New  York  city, 
where  the  occurrence  was  freely  commented  on 
and  discussed  among  the  people.  Some  presumed 
to  question  whether  the  Brandywine  was  as  blama- 
ble  for  having  deserted  her  post,  as  her  commander, 
while  others,  with  much  more  boldness  and  effron- 
tery, even  .ventured  to  speak  in  terms  of  derision 
of  the  commodore's  valor,  as  smacking  too  much 
of  the  Falstaff  kind  to  stand  the  test  of  emergency. 
For  my  own  part,  however,  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
understood  as  endorsing  any  of  these  popular 
notions  in  respect  to  the  worthy  officer  in  question, 
for  as  Commodore  Morgan  subsequently  observed, 
"  It  is  hardly  fair  to  hold  an  officer  responsible  to 
the  populace,  in  errors  of  conduct,  for  which  he  is 
at  all  times  amenable  alone  to  the  judgment  and 
censure  of  the  general  government." 

However,  as  a  consequential  result  of  this  unex- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        2T3 

pected  nature  of  the  Brandywine,  Commodore  Bol- 
ton  was  suspended  from  the  command  in  the  Medi- 
terranean, until  a  court  of  inquiry  could  be  con- 
vened to  examine  into  the  merits  of  his  conduct. 
In  the  meanwhile  it  was  necessary  that  the  Bran- 
dywine should  return  to  her  former  station,  and 
orders  were  accordingly  issued  for  her  to  proceed 
immediately  thither,  in  charge  of  Captain  Guy- 
singer.  The  command  of  the  squadron  was  soon 
after  tendered  to  Commodore  Morgan,  who  accepted 
the  appointment,  and  the  sloop  of  war  Fairfield, 
was  detatched  from  the  Brazilian  squadron  to  carry 
him  to  his  field  of  operations. 

Pending  the  time  of  Commodore  Morgan's  ap- 
pearance at  Norfolk,  our  vessel  was  transmoored 
near  to  that  place,  and  in  close  proximity  to  the 
ship  of  the  line,  Pennsylvania.  We  had  frequent 
intercourse  with  the  men  of  the  Pennsylvania, 
many  of  whom  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  quit 
their  stationary  mammoth  residence  for  an  active 
sea-going  ship.  As  many  of  these  men  had  three 
years  to  serve,  and  myself  but  eight  months,  I 
thought  an  exchange  might  be  made  to  the  advan- 
tage of  some  one  else,  as  well  as  to  myself,  for  I 
conceived  it  an  act  of  folly,  on  the  part  of  the 
government,  to  send  me  abroad  on  a  foreign  mis- 
sion for  so  short  a  period.  With  permission  of  the 
first  lieutenant,  I  ventured  to  break  the  subject  to 
the  captain,  who  showed  but  little  inclination, 
however,  to  assent  to  the  arrangement.  I  per- 


274       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

slated  in  my  claims,  until  he  began  to  betray 
symptoms  of  impatience. 

"  Where  did  you  ship  ?"  demanded  he,  when  I 
had  related  my  story. 

"  On  the  coast  of  Brazil,  in  the  Independence," 
answered  I. 

"  Is  there  any  one  else  in  this  ship  who  served 
in  the  Independence  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  I,  "  there's  Hull,  the  quarter- 
master, was  in  the  same  ship  with  me." 

"  Hull,"  proceeded  the  captain  ;  "  what  kind  of 
a  character  did  this  man  sustain  in  the  Indepen- 
dence ?' 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  answered  Hull,  touching  his 
hat.  "  He  had  but  one  serious  fault,  and  that  is 
he  wouldn't  drink  grog  with  the  rest  of  the  ship's 
company." 

"  That's  an  offence  that  can  be  overlooked," 
said  the  captain,  smiling.  "  I  never  flog  a  man 
for  refusing  to  get  drunk.  Mr.  Edgar,  this  way  if 
you  please,"  added  he,  calling  to  the  boatswain, 
who  was  backing  and  filling  on  the  top-gallant  fore- 
castle. Mr.  Edgar  walked  aft. 

"You  are  from  the  Columbus,  I  believe,"  said 
the  captain,  addressing  him. 

"Yes  sir." 

"  What  sort  of  a  character  did  this  man  bear  in 
the  Columbus?"  asked  the  captain,  nodding  to- 
wards me. 

"Jam  up,"  replied  the  boatswain,  looking  first 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        275 

at  Captain  Tattnall,  and  then  at  me.     "  He  was 
considered  one  of  the  best  men  in  the  ship." 

"  That  will  do,"  said  the  captain,  dismissing  the 
boatswain  ;  and  turning  to  me  he  added :  *'  You 
see  now  how  it  is.  I  have  gone  to  the  pains  of 
drilling  this  ship's  company,  until  nearly  every 
man  can  knock  the  head  out  of  a  hogshead  at  a 
long  shot,  and  now  you  would  have  me  exchange 
my  best  men  for  some  raw  recruits,  who  know 
nothing  of  handling  a  rammer  or  sighting  a  gun. 
No,  no.  I  hope  I  shall  be  more  careful  of  the 
interests  of  the  service  than  that.  I  would  not 
part  company  with  you  for  two  raw  hands ;  the 
Mediterranean  squadron  would  be  altogether  im- 
perfect without  you." 

"Well,  Captain  Tattnall,"  said  I,  not  a  little 
provoked  at  this  tantalizing  speech,  "I  give  you 
fair  warning  that  as  soon  as  my  remaining  seven 
months  service  expire,  I  will  quit  the  navy,  let  me 
be  in  what  portion  of  the  world  I  will." 

"There  is  a  law,"  observed  Captain  Tattnall, 
"  empowering  commanders  of  vessels  to  retain  the 
services  of  those  men  whose  times  have  expired,  as 
long  as  they  may  deem  such  service  essential  to  the 
public  good,  and  by  that  law  I  can  detain  you  at 
my  discretion." 

"  True,  sir,"  you  may  perhaps  detain  me,  but 
you  cannot  compel  me  to  labor.  I  shall  refuse 
duty  as  soon  as  my  time  expires." 

"See  there;  do  you  see  that?"  said  the  captain, 


276         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

pointing  to  the  stars  and  stripes  that  floated  at  the 
mizzen  peak. 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  touching  my  hat. 

"  Well,  so  long  as  you  are  under  that,  you  will 
have  to  submit  to  the  laws  and  regulations  that 
govern  the  service  ;  and  if  you  do  not,  or  dare  to 
turn  even  a  finger  in  opposition  to  them,  there  is  a 
summary  way  of  fetching  you  up  with  a  round 
turn  of  the  cat-o'-nine  tails ;  do  you  understand 
that  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  perfectly  well,"  replied  I. 

"  Well,  then,  go  forward  to  your  duty ;  govern 
yourself  accordingly,  and  let  me  hear  no  more  of 
exchanges." 

With  a.  bosom  palpitating  with  vexation  and  dis- 
appointment, I  repaired  to  the  berth  deck  to  brood 
over  my  ill  success,  and  to  console  my  thoughts  with 
the  first  mischief  that  presented  itself.  Here  a 
letter  was  handed  to  me  from  an  old  associate  in 
the  Columbus,  to  whom  I  had  written  shortly  after 
our  arrival  at  Hampton  Roads.  I  opened  it,  and 
for  a  while  forgot  the  defeat  of  my  project  of 
exchange  in  the  perusal  of  its  contents. 

IT.  S.  Ship  Columbus, 
Boston  Harbor,  July  5th,  1841. 
Dear  Sir  : — I  received  your  letter  of  the  30th 
of  May,  after  it  had  lain  in  the  post-office  nearly  a 
month.     I  am  very  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  in 
the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  and  I  am  at  a  loss 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        277 

to  know  why  you  was  disrated  to  ordinary  seaman. 
However,  I  suppose  they  thought  to  intimidate 
you  sufficiently  to  answer  their  purpose,  and  if 
possible,  cause  you  to  re-enter  for  the  Fairfield's 
cruise ;  but  if  you  comply  with  their  wishes,  you 
will  lose  a  great  deal  in  the  opinion  of  myself  and 
a  host  of  friends,  who  expect  far  better  things  of 
you.  I  know  that  it  will  take  more  than  a  bois- 
terous bully  to  frighten  you,  but  recollect  I  do  not 
say  that  your  captain  is  such  a  man,  although  I 
have  been  almost  led  to  think  so  from  the  reports 
of  some  of  my  old  shipmates  now  on  board  the 
Fail-field. 

I  think  you  a  singularly  unfortunate  fellow  in 
being  transferred  from  ship  to  ship,  incessantly, 
during  your  unjust  detention.  If  the  department 
think  to  obtain  men  for  the  navy,  in  this  way, 
they  will. find  themselves  very  much  mistaken,  for 
the  treatment  ia  too  harsh  altogether,  and  the 
commanders  of  ships  are  licensed  with  arbitrary 
power,  which  they  exercise  in  the  highest  degree — 
in  fact  they  assume,  and  use,  and  abuse  more 
power  than  the  president  of  this  great  republic 
dare  think  of  exercising,  or  presume  to  hold,  or 
expect ;  they  break  their  word  every  hour  in  the 
day  and  seem  to  think  they  are  doing  it  for  the 
good  of  the  service,  whereas  they  are  only  driving 
men  away  from  the  navy.  Had  I  been  treated  as 
some  good  men  have,  I  think  I  should  have  made 
holes  in  some  blue  coats,  for  my  temper  is  so  easily 
24 


278       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

up,  that  I  should  dread  the  consequences  of  any 
thing  like  severe  tyranny  or  injustice. 

Captain  Smith  opened  his  heart  a  short  time 
ago,  and  actually  had  the  kindness  to  rate  me 
ordinary  seamen,  after  my  having  lost  chances  in 
several  seagoing  ships  from  this  port,  in  which  I 
would  have  been  well  paid.  However,  my  time  is 
growing  short  in  the  service,  and  when  I  am  dis- 
charged, should  I  live  nine  hundred  and  ninety- 
nine  years,  and  all  that  time  fed  upon  bread  and 
water,  I  will  never  enter  the  navy  again.  What- 
ever I  may  think  of  the  treatment  I  have  received, 
it  shall  rest  in  my  own  breast  until  I  see  a  fitting 
opportunity  for  an  explosion,  and  then  I  will  spare 
no  one  that  has  had  a  share  in  any  villainous 
actions  that  have  come  under  my  notice. 

Please  give  my  kindest  regards  to  Brown,  Swain, 
Frost,  Burce,  and  all  the  rest,  and  tell  them  I  shall 
be  glad  to  hear  from  them  at  any  time.  Davis, 
Wheeler,  Clark,  and  a  host  of  others,  send  you 
their  best  wishes. 

Pray  let  me  hear  from  you  on  the  first  opportu- 
nity, as  I  shall  be  glad  to  learn  if  you  go  in  the 
Fairfield  or  not.  I  trust  you  will  remain  at  Nor- 
folk, and  when  you  are  discharged,  I  am  convinced 
you  will  have  the  good  sense  not  only  to  take  care 
of  your  money,  but -to  make  the  best  use  of  your 
time.  I  assure  you,  I  have  been  so  much  vexed  of 
late,  that  I  care  not  how  things  go.  When  onco 
free,  the  service  may  go  to  the  —  you  know  where. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       279 

Trusting  that  you  may  continue  to  enjoy  good 
health,  and  that  you  will  not  re-enter, 
I  remain,  dear  sir, 

Yours,  very  truly, 

W.  STUAKT. 

It  is  an  old  saying,  that  misery  loves  company, 
and  though,  in  general,  I  never  felt  any  particular 
satisfaction  in  seeing  others  distressed  when  I  was, 
yet  in  brooding  over  the  contents  of  this  letter,  I 
must  confess  that  I  drew  more  than  one  consoling 
thought  from  the  reflection  that  I  was  not  the  only 
man  in  the  service,  who  was  heartily  sick  of  it.  I 
folded  up  the  letter,  and  laying  it  aside  for  future 
perusal,  returned  to  my  duty  with  the  resignation 
of  a  philosopher.  For  a  subsequent  week,  my 
time  was  actively  spent  in  boats  plying  to  and 
from  the  Gossport  navy  yard.  During  this  period, 
\vater,  provisions,  and  whiskey,  were  conveyed  on 
board  the  ship,  as  well  as  the  commodore's  stores. 
By  the  26th  of  July,  every  arrangement  was  com- 
pleted for  the  commencement  of  our  voyage,  and 
we  only  awaited  the  presence  of  the  commodore, 
to  weigh  anchor.  On  the  28th,  we  were  greeted 
with  the  appearance  of  the  commander-in-chief, 
and  immediately  setting  all  sail,  we  passed  down 
Hampton  Roads  with  a  salute  to  the  Delaware, 
arid  in  four  hours  after,  were  tossing  and  heaving 
sn  the  broad  bosom  of  the  blue  Atlantic. 


Voyage  to  Gibraltar. 

IN  general  there  is  little  to  cheer  the  heart  in  a 
long  sea  voyage.  There  are  no  passing  objects 
aside  from  an  occasional  storm,  or  strange  sail,  to 
arrest  the  attention  of  the  ocean  traveller.  From 
day  to  day  the  restless  eye  wanders  its  accustomed 
round  over  the  trackless  waters,  to  be  only  relieved 
at  times  from  the  monotonous  scene,  by  a  wander- 
ing albicore  or  breaching  porpoise.  The  duties  of 
to-day  are  the  duties  of  to-morrow,  and  when  the 
bright  sun,  at  each  declining  day,  shields  his  glit- 
tering face  behind  the  western  ocean,  there  is  no 
golden  landscape  on  which  the  weary  wanderer 
may  mark  the  extent  of  his  last  day's  journey. 
But  merrily  onward  bounds  the  ship  day  and  night, 
over  the  silent  waste,  carrying  its  load  of  beating 
hearts  far  from  home,  from  friends  and  native 
land — never,  perhaps,  to  meet  again. 

"Aye!  never,  perhaps,  to  meet  again;"  so 
thought  I,  the  fourth  night  after  our  departure 
from  Hampton  Roads.  It  was  in  the  first  hour 
of  the  mid-watch.  I  had  stretched  myself  to  rest 
between  two  of  the  forward  guns,  while  the  ship 
was  scudding  along  under  an  easy  western  breeze. 
(280) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        281 

The  moon  was  abroad  in  the  heavens,  and  cast  a 
glimmering  light  across  the  sea,  and  over  as  much 
of  the  ship's  deck  as  was  not  sheltered  from  her 
rays  by  the  press  of  canvass  above.  Some  twenty 
men  were  strewed  around,  their  noses  keeping  time 
in  strange  harmony  with  the  music  of  their  dreams. 
I  could  not  sleep.  The  truth  is,  I  had  fallen  into 
one  of  my  melancholy  fits,  and  whenever  one  of 
these  was  upon  me,  I  became  strangely  moved 
with  gloomy  thoughts  and  mysterious  forebodings. 
The  prospect  of  war  was,  in  the  present  instance, 
before  me,  together  with  all  its  turmoil  of  battles, 
captures,  and  prisoners ;  and  as  my  fancy  pursued 
its  unhappy  train  of  images,  the  motionless  faces 
of  the  men  around  me  began  to  assume  the  pallid 
hue  of  death.  I  was  at  length  startled  at  my  own 
conceits,  and  sought  to  soften  down  my  thoughts 
by  recalling  to  memory  more  pleasing  associations. 
Then  recurred  the  recollections  of  home — of  my 
mother — of  a  thousand  other  things  connected 
with  my  earlier  life,  upon  which  my  heart  became 
melted,  and  I  indulged  a  while  in  tears.  My 
weeping  affording  me  some  relief,  I  counted  up  my 
speculations  of  sorrow  in  a  grand  sum  total,  and 
in  looking  over  the  items,  I  came  to  the  sort  of 
double  conclusion,  that  in  one  way  I  was  a  darned 
fool,  and  in  the  other,  that  I  must  certainly  be  the 
only  miserable  wretch  in  the  ship. 

At  this  juncture  my  ear  was  saluted  with  what 
I  conceived  to  be  the  blowing  of  a  porpoise  under 
24* 


282       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  larboard  bow,  and  on  thrusting  my  head 
through  one  of  the  bow-ports,  to  ascertain  whether 
it  were  within  reach  of  a  gig,  my  cheek  came  sud- 
denly in  contact  with  that  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Turner,  who 
was  sitting  quietly  in  the  fore  channels.  His  face 
was  bathed  in  tears,  and  his  eyes  were  fixed  on  the 
distant  moon,  as  if  in  contemplation  of  some  loved 
image  in  her  silvery  orb. 

Now  the  reader  may  perhaps  be  desirous  of 
knowing  who  Mr.  J.  M.  Turner  was,  and  why  he 
was  weeping.  I  will  endeavor  to  set  his  mind  at 
rest  in  respect  to  the  first  question,  by  stating  that 
Mr.  Turner  was  a  youth  of  some  sixteen  years  of 
age,  who  held  the  rank  of  midshipman  on  board  the 
Faixfield.  But  before  I  can  satisfactorily  dispose 
of  the  second  question,  it  will  be  necessary  first  to 
note  who  midshipmen  are,  what  they  are,  and  how 
they  are  made. 

In  respect  to  the  first  of  these  inquiries  I  may 
observe,  that  midshipmen  are  usually  the  progeny 
of  naval  captains  and  members  of  naval  bureaus — 
of  United  States  senators — of  members  and  ex- 
members  of  congress — and  of  other  great  men 
holding  high  seats  in  the  synagogue  of  govern- 
ment. Indeed  the  patronage  of  the  navy  has  been 
limited  with  such  scrupulous  care  to  the  children 
of  the  great  men  of  our  land,  that  precedent  alone, 
if  no  other  usage,  woald  exclude  from  the  official 
list  the  son  of  a  commoner.  The  consequence  of 
this  is,  that  midshipmen  commonly  look  upon  them- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.          283 

selves  as  being  somebody.  Much  regard  is  paid 
among  them  to  birth,  and  their  characters  and 
abilities  are  too  often  weighed,  by  even  their  supe- 
riors, in  proportion  to  the  positions  occupied  by 
their  fathers  in  government  and  society.  Hence 
their  very  messes  become  seasoned  with  a  strong 
smell  of  aristocracy,  and  a  boy  of  humble  parentage 
shoved  suddenly  in  the  steerage  of  a  ship  among 
them,  would  meet  with  about  the  same  favor  at 
their  hands  as  a  toad  thrown  into  a  den  of 
vipers. 

As  to  what  midshipmen  are,  it  may  be  noted, 
that  though  nothing  in  common  can  exist  between 
them  and  the  sailors  as  a  class,  yet  they  form  a 
sort  of  connecting  link  between  the  official  and 
subordinate  portion  of  a  ship's  company.  Their 
duty  is  to  muster  the  watches,  to  run  errands,  to 
carry  orders  and  messages,  to  command  the  boats 
when  absent  on  duty,  and  to  keep  a  general  watch 
and  supervision  over  .the  movements  of  the  men. 
They  are  at  sea  something  near  what  constables 
are  on  land — the  summoners,  reporters  and  inform- 
ers, while  their  superiors  may  be  styled  the  execu- 
tioners, of  the  law.  Though  in  general  they  are 
looked  upon  with  contempt  by  the  men,  yet  the 
laws  protect  them  from  insult.  They  may  abuse, 
if  they  please,  any  man  of  the  ship's  company  with 
impunity,  as  the  object  of  their  dislike  can  obtain 
redress  in  no  other  way  than  by  an  appeal  to  the 
captain,  and  the  captain  never  punishes  a  gentle* 


284        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

man  further  than  by  a  gentle  reprimand.  If  a 
sailor  resist  the  assault  of  a  young  gentleman,  he 
does  it  at  the  risk  of  his  life;  for  one  of  the  arti- 
cles of  war  reads :  "  If  any  man  shall  strike,  or 
offer  to  strike,  his  superior  officer,  he  shall  suffer 
death,  or  such  other  punishment  as  a  court-martial 
shall  inflict."  When  the  reader  takes  into  careful 
consideration  the  scope  which  such  laws  must  neces- 
sarily give  to  the  genius  of  a  young  aristocrat, 
seventeen  years  of  age ;  and  when  he,  moreover, 
reflects  that  such  boys  are  usually  the  worst 
spoiled  children  in  the  world,  from  the  over-indul- 
gence of  parents,  he  will  have  no  great  difficulty  in 
arriving  at  a  proper  estimate  of  what  midshipmen 
are. 

As  to  the  question  of  how  midshipmen  are  made, 
the  query  may  perhaps  be  best  illustrated  to  the 
reader  by  an  individual  character,  and  having  one 
just  now  in  my  eye,  I  will  proceed  with  it  in 
detail. 

A  gentleman  senator  from  V has  a  prom- 
ising son  to  dispose  of — a  bright  ingenious  youth, 
who,  by  becoming  ungovernable  at  home,  has  shown 
the  very  qualifications  necessary  to  govern  a  ship's 
company.  The  senator  determines  at  once  to  fix 
the  destiny  of  his  boy  in  the  navy.  He  suggests 
his  wisfees  to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  appreciating  the  weight  of  the  hon- 
orable senator's  influence  in  the  political  scales, 
hints  the  iiame  of  the  boy  to  the  honorable  Secre* 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        285 

tary  of  the  Navy.  The  honorable  secretary,  desi- 
rous of  "  killing  two  birds  with  one  stone,"  by 
gratifying  the  wishes  of  both  the  President  and  the 
senator,  places  a  midshipman's  warrant  in  the 
pocket  of  the  boy,  and  sends  him  off  to  New  York, 
or  Boston,  where  the  lad  steps  on  board  a  national 
ship,  an  independent  midshipman. 

Though  only  fifteen  years  of  age  at  his  entrance 
into  the  service,  the  young  gentleman  now  begins 
to  take  what  is  technically  called  "  a  great  swell." 
He  begins,  too,  to  taste  the  benefits  of  office.     He 
had  before  to  content  himself  with  the  few  crumbs 
of    cash   that   fell   occasionally  from   his  father's 
purse,  but  now  he  finds  himself  in  the  clear  pos- 
session of  four  hundred  dollars  per  annum.    What- 
ever he  had  previously  learned  by  way  of  education 
he  has  now  in  a  measure  to  unlearn ;   and  like  a 
newly   caught  monkey,  fresh  from  the  coast  of 
Africa,  he  soon  begins  to  mimic  the  motions  of  his 
master,  the  captain.     Occasionally  he  looks  into 
"  Bowditch's  Navigator,"  keeps  a  kind  of  off-hand 
journal,  which  he  mostly  copies  from  the  log-book 
of  the  ship,  and  when  the  weather  will  permit,  takes 
a  squint  at  the  sun  through  the  glass  of  a  quad- 
rant.    These  pursuits  constitute  the  severest  por- 
tion of  his  probationary  studies.    At  the  end  of  five 
years  the  government  discovers  that  it  has  sacri- 
ficed two  thousand  dollars,  and  realized  a — mid- 
shipman. 

The  probationary  term  over,  our  youthful  ad- 


286       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

venturer  is  next  called  before  a  committe  appointed 
by  government  to  test  his  mathematical  abilities, 
and  to  examine  his  qualifications  in  seamanship. 
Here  he  has  a  vast  and  difficult  series  of  questions 
propounded  to  him.  Such  as,  "  How  much  oakum 
will  it  take  to  caulk  a  ship  ?  How  would  you  ease 
a  ship  in  case  she  griped  ?  How  would  you  tack  a 
ship  without  a  wind  ?  How  many  anchors  will  it 
take  to  hold  a  ship  in  a  hurricane  ?"  If  these 
questions  be  satisfactorily  answered  by  the  young 
gentleman,  some  of  the  more  knowing  members 
of  the  board  will  suggest  the  more  puzzling  query 
of  "  How  much  headway,  per  hour,  will  a  ship 
make  against  a  ten  knot  current  with  a  ten  knot 
breeze,  provided  she  have  all  her  sails  set?"  And 
if  the  middy  overcome  this  knotty  difficulty,  the 
board  become  satisfied  of  his  professional  skill,  and 
unanimously  agree  to  shove  him  up  one  step  on  the 
ladder  of  promotion,  while  the  government,  in 
recompense  of  the  valuable  services  rendered  the 
nation  in  solving  these  questions,  place  an  addi- 
tional two  hundred  dollars  at  his  annual  disposal. 
This,  gentle  reader,  is  a  brief  history  of  the  process 
by  which  all  naval  officers  are  usually  manufac- 
tured. 

Well,  it  may  be  asked,  was  Mr.  Turner  one  of 
of  this  aristocratic  class  of  young  gentlemen  ?  I 
answer  no.  I  have  already  stated  in  a  former 
chapter  that  one  midshipman  was  to  be  annually 
selected  from  among  the  most  exemplary  boys  on 


FIVE  YKARS  BEFOEE  THE  MAST.       287 

each  school  ship.  Mr.  Turner,  or  rather  master 
Turner,  was  one  of  those  boys  whose  surpassing 
scholarship  and  behavior  had  secured  him  this 
mark  of  distinction  from  the  general  government. 
He  had  been  a  bound  boy  in  the  North  Carolina, 
at  New  York  ;  and  what  rendered  him  an  object 
of  additional  interest  to  a  benevolent  mind,  was 
the  circumstance  of  being  an  orphan  child.  Every 
man  doubtless  feels  a  certain  degree  of  satisfaction 
in  gaining  the  object  of  his  ambition,  and  young 
Turner  had  a  double  reason  for  being  satisfied  with 
himself,  inasmuch  as  he  owed  his  advancement  tc 
his  own  merits,  instead  of  the  kindness  and  inter- 
cession of  influential  friends  and  demagogues.  He 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
appointment  with  a  pride  peculiar  to  his  age,  and 
might  have  proceeded  happily  in  his  new  career, 
had  not  the  devil,  who  always  seems  busying  him- 
self most  with  the  virtuous,  contrived  it  other- 
wise. 

I  am  scarce  philosopher  enough  to,  analyze  the 
elements  of  aristocracy,  and  tell  the  exact  essences 
of  which  it  is  composed.  It  may  be  a  principle 
inherent  in  wealth,  pride,  and  their  attendant 
properties,  or  it  may  be  a  contagion,  which  like 
other  vile  diseases,  finds  its  way  to  the  fountains 
of  honor  and  trust,  poisoning  the  hearts  of  the  few 
against  the  friendly  communion  of  those  many  who 
bask  less  favorably  than  themselves  in  the  smiles 
of  fortune.  But  whether  a  disease  or  not,  it  has 


288       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

certainly  the  character  of  being  infectious,  for  the 
congressman  who  to-day  is  all  friendship  and  kind- 
ness, will  to-morrow  turn  up  hig  nose  at  his  humble 
constituent,  should  he  meet  him  at  Washington. 
Such  being  the  case,  it  becomes  each  good  citizen 
to  use  every  nostrum  to  prevent  its  spread,  for  it  is 
not  only  an  enemy  to  the  laboring  portion  of 
society,  but  to  the  body  politic  of  our  republican 
structure.  If  not  happily  arrested,  it  will  even- 
tually insinuate  its  virulent  poison  into  the  consti- 
tution itself,  and  sapping  every  fibre  of  its  pristine 
strength,  send  it  withered  and  consumpted  to  an 
untimely  grave. 

That  it  was  an  enemy  to  at  least  one  American 
heart,  the  youthful  Turner  was  already  prepared  to 
testify.  What  business  had  the  plebeian  midship- 
man to  thrust  his  nose  into  companionship  with 
those  of  the  sons  of  members  of  Congress  ?  It  was 
an  insult  to  the  uniform,  a  disgrace  to  the  service. 
The  New  York  washerwoman's  son,  he  who  was 
unable  to  buy  .his  own  outfit,  but  obtained  it  from 
the  charity  of  a  friend,  a  common  beggar,  a  'pren- 
tice, a  bound  boy,  to  stick  himself  up  among  pat- 
rician midshipmen  for  a  gentleman!  "Oh!  it's 
horrible !"  cried  they.  "  It's  a  scandal !  Let's 
enter  into  a  conspiracy ;  let's  kick  him  out  of  the 
steerage !"  And  kick  him  out  they  did ;  and 
the  poor  orphan  boy,  having  no  one  in  the  ship 
with  whom  to  share  his  sorrows,  crept  silently 
away  into  the  fore  channels,  and  poured  out  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        28D 

feelings  of  his  heart  in  bitter  tears  to  the  distant 
moon. 

The  young  fellow  was  very  much  startled  at  the 
unexpected  appearance  of  my  head  through  the 
port-hole,  but  on  meeting  with  a  word  of  encour- 
agement from  me,  kept  his  seat.  Jumping  on  a 
gun,  I  clambered  over  the  hammock  nettings,  and 
slid  down  by  his  side.  He  soon  forgot  his  tears 
in  listening  to  my  conversation.  We  remained 
together  till  the  close  of  the  watch.  He  then 
returned  to  the  steerage,  where  he  hoped  to  enjoy 
a  brief  rest  while  his  patrician  enemies  were 
asleep. 

From  the  discourse  of  Turner,  I  was  led  to  infer 
that  his  present  position  was  one  of  the  most  pain- 
ful and  trying  that  a  boy  could  possibly  occupy. 
His  midshipman's  warrant,  which  had  at  first  awa- 
kened such  pleasing  anticipations  in  his  fancy,  was 
now  in  reality  become  a  source  of  torment  to  him. 
It  had  given  him  no  additional  .importance  in  the 
estimation,  of  the  officers,  while  at  the  same  time  it 
cut  him  off  from  the  society  of  his  former  associ- 
ates. Discipline  had  interposed  a  bar  between  him 
and  the  other  boys  of  the  ship's  company,  beyond 
which  it  became  him  not  to  pass.  His  only  chance, 
then,  for  social  converse,  was  among  his  own  mess- 
mates of  the  steerage ;  and  these,  as  we  have 
already  seen,  were  in  open  hostility  against  him. 
He  was,  therefore,  a  lone  boy  among  a  ship's  crew 
of  over  two  hundred  souls.  When  I  reflected  on 
26 


290       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

his  situation,  and  compared  it  with  my  own,  1 
thought  the  world  had  not  yet  treated  me  with  all 
the  harshness  of  which  it  was  capable.  I  pitied 
him,  and  determined  while  I  remained  in  the  ship, 
to  do  all  I  could  to  lighten  the  burden  of  his 
sorrows. 

The  day  following  these  events,  a  messenger- 
boy  brought  me  word  that  I  was  wanted  in  the 
ward-room.  What  proceedings  could  require  my 
presence  in  such  a  forbidden  part  of  the  ship,  was 
to  me  a  deep  mystery.  Thinks  I  to  myself,  I 
will  solve  it  at  all  events,  and  proceeding  thither, 
I  found  Mr.  Lannier,  the  sailing  master,  sitting  at 
the  table  with  the  ship's  log  before  him. 

"  What  sort  of  a  hand  do  you  write  ?"  said  he, 
addressing  me  as  I  entered. 

"  Not  a  very  extra  one,"  answered  I. 

"  Give  me  an  example,"  continued  he,  shoving 
a  piece  of  paper  towards  me. 

Picking  up  the  pen,  I  wrote  the  name  of  the 
ship,  and  handed  it  to  him.  He  looked  at  it,  and 
said  it  would  do.  I  was  then  told  that  after  that 
day  it  would  be  my  duty  to  write  the  log-book,  for 
which  service  I  should  receive  extra  pay,  and  that 
he  would  have  me  excused  from  my  daily  trick  at 
the  helm,  that  I  might  be  enabled  to  do  it  without 
interruption. 

I  should,  perhaps,  observe  that  the  writing  of 
the  log-book  was  properly  a  portion  of  the  duties 
belonging  to  the  master's  mate.  But  Mr.  Tripp 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        291 

was,  unfortunately,  as  deficient  in  penmanship  and 
mathematics,  as  he  was  in  the  recollection  of  his 
former  shipmates.  For  instance,  if  twenty-one 
thousand  gallons  of  water  were  taken  on  board  the 
Fairfield  on  Monday,  and  on  Tuesday  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-two  gallons  of  this  quantity  were 
expended,  to  tell  what  quantity  still  remained  on 
hand,  was  a  problem  entirely  too  deep  for  Mr. 
Tripp's  powers  of  solution. 

In  fact  it  was  an  unfathomable  mystery  to  me, 
all  the  time  I  remained  in  the  Fairfield,  how  Mr. 
Tripp  ever  became  master's-mate  at  all.  He  had 
been  in  the  Independence  very  little  over  a  year 
after  her  departure  from  Boston,  in  1837,  when  he 
ran  away  from  her  at  Buenos  Ayres.  After  a 
residence  of  some  two  months  in  the  Spanish  colo- 
nies, he  was  apprehended  by  some  of  the  natives 
and  brought  back  to  the  ship.  Commodore  Nich- 
olson paid  the  money  for  his  arrest  out  of  Tripp's 
own  wages,  and  added  thirty-six  lashes  with  the 
cat-o'-nine-tails  to  his  account,  as  an  oflfset  for 
having  taken  French  leave.  He  was  discharged  at 
New  York,  with  the  rest  of  his  shipmates,  without 
any  award  of  honor ;  and  I  was  the  more  surpri- 
sed to  find  him  in  the  situation  of  master's  mate, 
from  the  fact  that  he  owed  the  distinction  to  neither 
his  abilities  nor  his  merits. 

Early  in  August  we  drew  into  the  vicinity  of  the 
Western  Isles,  and  passed  within  view  of  Fayal 
and  Pico.  We  there  bent  our  course  in  a  south- 


292        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

easterly  direction,  and  after  about  a  week's  run, 
anchored  in  front  of  the  castle  of  Funchal,  at  the 
Island  of  Madeira. 

I  am  unable  to  say  why  the  Commodore  stopped 
at  this  place,  un^ss  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  let- 
ting the  apprentice  boys  have  a  run  on  shore ;  and 
this  had  better  riot  have  been  done,  for  they  all  got 
drunk  before  they  were  on  shore  six  hours,  and  nine 
days  afterwards,  seven  of  the  ten,  were  placed 
under  the  hands  of  the  surgeon  to  be  cured  of  ve- 
nerial  diseases.  But  then  we  had  grapes  and 
oranges  of  an  excellent  quality,  and  at  prices  so 
low  that  all  hands  were  enabled  to  buy ;  and  this 
more  than  compensated  for  the  inconvenience  we 
experienced  from  drunken  and  diseased  boys. 

Madeira  is  an  island  of  considerable  note  in  the 
wine  trade.  It  belongs  to  the  Portuguese  govern- 
ment, and  lies  about  six  hundred  miles  southeast 
from  that  country.  The  general  features  of  the 
island  are  of  a  volcanic  cast.  The  surface  of  the 
country  is  broken  and  uneven,  shooting  up,  in 
places,  into  irregular  ridges,  and  abrupt  peaks,  and 
terminating  along  the  shores  in  rocky  ledges  and 
precipices  of  frightful  height.  Funchal,  the  capi- 
tal, is  situated  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain  near  the 
sea,  and  contains  a  population  of  near  twenty  thou- 
sand inhabitants.  The  harbor  is  a  very  poor  one, 
and  ships  anchoring  in  it,  are  never  secure  from 
being  cast  away  during  stormy  weather. 

During  the  few  days  that  we  remained  here,  we 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  f  HE  MAST. 

had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  some  of  the  ladies  of 
Funchal,  who  did  us  the  honor  of  visiting  the  ship, 
but  much  as  I  regret  to  say  it,  it  would  perhaps 
have  been  as  creditable  to  womankind  and  man- 
kind too,  had  some  of  them  stayed  on  shore.  It 
would-  be  very  unfair  to  form  an  estimate  of  the 
society  of  any  town  or  country,  from  the  manners 
of  a  few  individuals  selected  from  among  its  inhab- 
itants, and  therefore  I  will  be  charitable  in  my 
censures  of  the  citizens  of  Madeira.  There  are 
doubtless  many  worthy  and  benevolent  families  of 
the  Island,  the  numbers  of  which,  both  male  and 
female,  might  be  upheld  to  the  world  as  examples 
of  purity  arid  excellence. 

The  commodore,  having  gratified  his  curiosity  in 
respect  to  the  Island  by  a  short  sojourn  among  its 
inhabitants,  reappeared  on  board  the  ship  at  the 
end  of  four  days,  upon  which  we  again  Kent  our 
course  to  seaward,  and  bore  away  in  the  direction 
of  Gibraltar. 

It  was  on  the  second  night  after  our  departure 
from  Madeira,  that  Mr.  Turner  and  I  had  seated 
ourselves  to  a  mutual  discourse  under  the  topgallant 
forecastle.  There  was  something  so  pleasing  to  the 
heart  of  the  young  midshipman  in  having  one  asso- 
ciate to  whom  he  could  unbosom  himself,  and  in 
whose  friendship  he  could  find  a  consolation  for  his 
sorrows,  that  he  hailed  these  stolen  interviews  as 
the  only  bright  hours  of  his  official  life.  Our  inti- 
macy had  already  been  noticed  by  some  of  his 
25* 


294       FIVE  YEAHS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

steerage  companions,  who  had  more  than  likely 
hinted  the  circumstance  to  the  first  lieutenant. 
But  whether  they  had  or  not,  Mr.  Whittle  in  the 
present  instance,  appeared  very  unexpectedly  on 
the  forecastle,  and  in  a  peremptory  tone  ordered  Mr. 
Turner  to,  what  he  was  pleased  to  designate,  a  more 
'appropriate  part  of  the  ship  for  young  gentlemen. 
Mr.  Turner  immediately  rose  and  departed,  while 
the  first  lieutenant  favored  me  with  a  look  of  such 
exquisite  blackness,  as  betokened,  if  not  a  clouded 
mind,  one  at  least  burning  with  angry  and  malig- 
nant thoughts.  But  conscious  of  no  wrong,  I  re- 
mained seated,  and  met  his  gaze  with  a  quiet,  though 
unshrinking  look. 

On  the  morning  following  this  incident  an  order 
was  passed  through  the  ship  for  all  the  men  to 
scrub  their  hammocks.  It  happened  that  the 
painters  in  painting  the  hammock-nettings  the  day 
before  we  anchored  at  Funchal,  had  accidentally 
daubed  a  little  black  paint  on  my  hammock  and 
finding  that  salt  water  would  not  remove  the  spot, 
I  was  obliged  to  hang  it  on  the  lines  with  the  stain 
still  visible.  In  the  afternoon,  when  the  lines  were 
lowered  down,  and  the  men  ordered  to  pass  round 
the  capstan  with  their  hammocks  for  inspection,  the 
first  lieutenant  fixed  his  eye  upon  mine  with  an 
indignant  look,  and  pointing  to  the  spot,  asked  mo 
how  I  dared  venture  to  pass  such  a  hammock.  I 
endeavored  to  explain,  but  without  hearing  my  ex- 
cuse, he  ordered  me  to  stand  aside  until  the  rest 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        295 

had  passed.  I  observed  several  other  hammocks  in 
the  crowd  which  were  in  a  predicament  similar  to 
my  own,  but  which  were  all  permitted  to  pass  un- 
challenged. 

As  soon  as  the  inspection  was  over,  Mr.  Boyle, 
the  second  lieutenant,  -approached  Mr.  Whittle  and 
inquired  his  objections  for  refusing  to  pass  my 
hammock;  but  the  first  lieutenant,  without  making 
any  reply,  ordered  a  boatswain's  mate  to  be  sent 
aft.  The  humble  petty  officer  soon  made  his  ap- 
pearance at  the  mainmast,  when  the  first  lieutenant, 
addressing  himself  to  me,  pointed  to  one  of  the 
waist  guns. 

"  Stand  up  there,  you  paint-dealing  rascal !"  said 
he.  "  I  will  learn  you  how  to  present  a  dirty  ham- 
mock at  muster." 

I  took  my  stand  at  the  breech  of  the  gun  with- 
out a  murmur,  at  which  he  nodded  to  the  boat- 
swain's mate,  who  immediately  drew  his  colt  from 
his  hat,  and  coiling  one  end  of  it  round'  his  hand, 
commenced  laying  over  my  back  so  soundly  that  I 
almost  fainted  with  the  pain.  At  the  twelfth  blow 
he  was  ordered  to  stop,  when  I  instantly  took  up 
my  bed  and  walked.  Mr.  Boyle  stood  leaning 
against  the  capstan,  where  he  had  watched  the 
whole  proceedings  with  a  look  half  laughing,  half 
indignant. 

"  What  is  the  misunderstanding  between  you 
and  the  first  lieutenant?"  said  Mr.  Boyle,  encoun- 


296        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tering  me  one  hour  after  the  foregoing  occur- 
rence. 

"  I  am  not  conscious  of  any  difficulty  existing 
between  us,"  answered  I. 

"  You  certainly  must  have  offended  him  in  some 
way,  else  he  would  hardly  have  flogged  you  as  he 
did." 

"  I  know  not  how  I  can  have  done  it,  then,''  re- 
turned I,  "  unless  Mr.  Turner's  partiality  for  my 
company  have  incurred  his  displeasure." 

"Well,  displeasure  or  no  displeasure,"  observed 
Mr.  Boyle,  "I  should  have  to  be  put  most  wretch- 
edly to  my  shifts  before  I  would  spit  out  my  spite 
on  a  foremast  hand,"  and  with  a  good  natured 
smile,  the  fat  old  lieutenant  rolled  aft  to  the  quarter 
deck. 

It  is  remarkable  what  an  effect  one  sympathizing 
word  will  often  produce  on  a  mind  smarting  under 
a  sense  of  injustice  or  ill  treatment.  There  was 
nothing  in  common  existing  between  Mr.  Boyle 
and  myself;  he  had  never  before  spoken  to  me 
except  in  the  routine  of  duty,  and  even  then,  in  a 
tone  of  voice  wholly  destitute  of  partiality  or  favor. 
To  hear  him,  then,  thus  openly  expressing  himself 
in  disapprobation  of  the  conduct  of  his  brother 
officer,  was  both  pleasing  and  unexpected,  and 
awakened  in  my  bosom  feelings  of  a  most  grateful 
character.  I  now  persuaded  myself  that  I  had  a 
friend  of  influence  in  a  part  of  the  ship  where  I 
least  expected  to  find  one,  but  where  it  was,  never 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        297 

theless,  extremely  desirable  to  have  one ;  for  though 
he  might  not  have  the  power  to  openly  counteract 
the  flogging  orders  of  the  first  lieutenant,  yet  his 
position  in  the  ship  was  such  as  might  go  far  to- 
wards restraining  him  within  certain  bounds  of 
moderation.  My  bosom  immediately  warmed  to- 
wards him  with  friendly  sensations,  which  from 
day  to  day  strengthened  themselves  to  such  an 
extent,  that  by  the  time  we  arrived  at  Gibraltar 
there  was  no  possible  privation  or  danger  I  would 
not  have  cheerfully  encountered  for  the  preserva- 
tion and  safety  of  Junius  J.  Boyle. 

Early  in  September  we  bore  up  into  the  harbor 
of  Gibraltar,  and  dropped  our  anchor  in  the  midst 
of  a  fleet  of  English  line  of  battle-ships.  There 
appeared  to  be  something  peculiarly  daring  in  run- 
ning thus  boldly  into  the  very  teeth  of  so  imposing 
an  array  of  British  batteries ;  and  that,  too,  at  a 
time  when  the  question  of  war  was  still  agitating 
both  governments ;  and  when  the  guns  of  the 
little  Fairfield  finally  opened  their  throats  to  the 
salute  of  the  British  flag,  there  was  a  still  wilder 
feeling  of  animation  in  listening  to  the  thunder  of 
American  cannon  rolling  along  the  neighboring 
shores  of  Spain,  and  reverberating  from  crag  vto 
crag  of  the  world-renowned  fortress  before  us. 

Gibraltar  is  situated  at  the  north-eastern  extre- 
mity of  the  strait  forming  the  entrance  to  the 
Mediterranean.  It  is  a  bold,  craggy  rock,  rising 
abruptly  from  the  water  to  an  elevation  of  near 


298       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

fifteen  hundred  feet.  It  is  near  three  miles  in 
length,  and  about  half  that  distance  in  breadth. 
The  whole  forms  a  peninsula  of  the  Spanish  coast, 
washed  on  one  side  by  the  waters  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean, and  on  the  other  by  a  beautiful  bay,  some 
fifteen  miles  in  circumference,  and  large  enough  to 
give  anchorage  to  a  thousand  ships.  The  whole 
extent  of  the  eastern  side  is  rendered  unassailable 
by  its  perpendicular  shape,  but  the  western  decli- 
vity terminates  near  the  water  in  a  gently  sloping 
plain,  along  which  is  situated  the  town,  as  well  as 
the  most  important  portion  of  the  fortifications. 
The  northern  projection,  which  forms  an  abrupt 
ledge  overhanging  a  low  flat  strip  of  land,  is  pene- 
trated in  various  directions  by  stupendous  excava- 
tions, the  loop-holes  of  each  chamber  presenting 
guns  of  immense  calibre,  and  overlooking  the  ad- 
joining Spanish  territories  with  most  threatening 
aspect.  The  narrow  strip  of  ground,  stretching 
like  an  isthmus  between  the  rock  and  the  main 
land,  is  occupied  at  fixed  points  by  lines  of  English 
and  Spanish  sentries.  The  two  posts  are  near 
half  a  mile  asunder,  and  the  intervening  space  is 
designated  the  neutral  ground.  The  scenery  of  the 
surrounding  country  is  delightful  and  picturesque, 
being  romantically  diversified  with  every  variety  of 
hill,  dale,  mountain,  rock  and  sea. 

The  fortifications  contain  but  one  public  entrance, 
which  opens  through  a  massive  gate  in  the  walls, 
guarding  the  north-eastern  extremity  of  the  rock. 


FIVE  YEAIIS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        299 

It  is  daily  thrown  wide  to  the  market  people  of  the 
neighboring  villages,  but  strangers  are  prohibited 
from  passing  the  sentries,  without  an  order  legally 
signed  by  a  proper  officer.  The  town,  containing 
some  eighteen  thousand  inhabitants,  is  built  with 
some  display  of  taste  and  elegance  along  a  spacious 
street,  running  parallel  with  the  narrow  plain  along 
the  western  acclivity  of  the  rock.  It  is  a  place  of 
considerable  commercial  importance,  and  being 
destitute  of  duties,  custom-houses  and  port  charges, 
serves  as  a  general  mart  for  the  traders  and  specu- 
lators of  the  Mediterranean.  The  low  price  of 
goods  renders  it  also  a  favorite  resort  for  smug- 
glers, who  here  load  themselves  with  the  linen  and 
woollen  fabrics  of  Britain,  as  well  as  the  more  fan- 
ciful productions  of  Paris  and  Lyons,  and  play  a 
profitable  game  to  themselves  in  defrauding  the 
revenues  of  the  various  ports  of  both  the  adjacent 
continents.  Here  the  eye  of  the  traveller  may 
see,  parading  the  avenues  of  trade,  men  dressed  in 
the  costume  of  every  nation,  stretching  along  both 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Black  Sea.  The  place  is  also  frequently  re- 
sorted to  by  American  ships  of  war,  the  officers 
of  which  are  here  able  to  supply  their  necessary 
wants  at  a  less  outlay  than  elsewhere ;  and  Ameri- 
can Pursers,  too  often  actuated  with  the  desire  of 
accumulating  unjust  gains,  here  fill  their  chests 
with  English  fabrics  at  a  reduced  cost,  and  pocket 
a  golden  harvest  in  forcing  them  upon  the 


300        FIVE  YEARS  BEFOIIE  THE  MAST. 

humble  seamen  of  the  squadron  at  extortionate 
prices. 

During  our  stay  at  Gibraltar,  none  of  the  men 
were  permitted  to  have  leave  of  absence,  and  con- 
sequently we  could  have  no  further  intercourse 
with  the  shore,  than  such  as  necessarily  resulted 
from  passing  to  and  from  the  landing,  in  the  boats. 
Most  of  the  officers,  however,  in  turn  visited  the 
fortress,  while  the  commodore  and  captain,  divided 
their  hours  between  the  British  officers  and  the 
American  consul. 

My  own  adventures  embraced  only  a  two  hours' 
jaunt  on  board  an  English  ship  of  the  line,  called 
the  Rodney,  where  much  to  my  surprise,  I  encoun- 
tered fourteen  of  my  old  shipmates  of  the  Inde- 
pendence, and  one  of  those  men  who  had  deserted 
from  the  Preble  at  Pictou.  These  sailors  were  all 
Englishmen  by  birth,  who  had  returneil  home  on 
being  discharged  from  the  American  navy.  They 
had  exhausted  their  wages  in  extravagant  carou- 
sals, and  being  unable,  from  scarcity  of  employ- 
ment, to  obtain  berths  in  the  merchant  service, 
determined  to  try  a  three  year's  enlistment  in  the 
royal  navy.  On  asking  one  of  them  which  ser- 
vice he  liked  best,  the  American  or  English,  he 
expressed  a  preference  for  that  of  Britain. 

"  For  here,"  said  he,  "  we  meet  with  better 
usage,  have  as  good  rations,  as  much  grog,  a  less 
amount  of  cat-o'-uine-tails,  and  can  save  as  much 
money." 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE-  MAST.        301 

"  How  can  you  save  as  much  money,"  inquired 
I,  "  when,  as  I  am  informed,  you  only  get  at  the 
rate  of  eight-and-a-half  dollars  per  month  of  our 
money,  and  in  the  Independence  you  received 
twelve  ?" 

"  But  we  have  here  thirteen  months  in  the  year," 
observed  he,  somewhat  exultingly. 

"  True,  but  that  will  only  be  an  item  on  your 
side  of  the  balance,"  replied  I. 

"  Well,  but  there  are  several  other  items  to  be 
added,''  continued  the  British  sailor.  "  You  pay 
the  monthly  sum  of  one  dollar  and  forty  cents  for 
your  tea  and  sugar,  and  have  besides  twenty  cents 
per  month  deducted  from^our  wages  for  hospital 
money,  making  in  all,  a  yearly  aggregate  of  twenty 
dollars,  the  payment  of  which  we  are  exempted 
from ;  for  though  we  do  not  drink  tea,  as  you  do, 
we  have,  notwithstanding,  our  cocoa  and  sugar,  and 
that  is  furnished  us  by  government,  as  a  portion  of 
our  rations." 

"  But  still,"  persevered  I,  determined  to  sustain 
the  honor  of  the  stripes  and  stars  to  the  last, 
"  even  your  twenty  dollars,  and  your  extra  month's 
pay,  will  scarcely  square  the  difference." 

"You  think  so  because  you  overlook  another 
important  item,"  said  my  opponent,  with  a  smile. 

"  What  is  that  ?"  asked  I. 

"  The  item  of  clothing,"  replied  he.  "  Clothing, 
at  all  times,  is  thirty  per  cent  cheaper  here  than 
in  the  American  navy.  We  save  near  fifteen  dol- 
26 


802         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

lars  a  year  on  woolen  goods  alone.  Besides,  here 
we  are  permitted  to  wear  government  slops  at 
muster,  as  well  as  on  duty,  and  this  your  officers 
would  never  allow.  In  the  Independence  nothing 
was  ever  considered  good  enough  for  a  sailor  to 
muster  in,  but  superfine  jackets  and  fancy  cloth 
trowsers.  When  up  the  Baltic  and  at  England, 
Lieutenant  McKenzie  would  never  permit  a  boat's 
crew  to  approach  the  shore  unless  they  were  dress- 
ed in  fine  blue  cloth  clothes  and  white  stockings. 
You  may  think  such  fineries  were  entirely  useless, 
and  so  thought  we.  Some  of  the  men  openly 
objected  to  buying  them,  and  had  their  backs 
fleeced  for  their  pains,  and  when  they  afterwards 
submitted  to  the  purchase,  they  had  their  pockets 
fleeced  by  the  purser.  What  then  is  the  use  of 
your  big  pay,  if  the  men  are  again  to  be  plundered 
out  of  it  ?  We  know  that  you  Americans  brag 
a  great  deal  about  grand  wages,  grand  ships,  grand 
clothes  and  all  that  sort  o'  thing,  but  it's  all  hum- 
bug after  all.  Three  years  in  the  Independence 
has  satisfied  me  that  the  pride  of  Yankee  officers, 
and  the  avarice  of  Yankee  pursers,  renders  your 
service  one  of  no  great  shakes  to  the  pockets  of 
poor  Jack,  notwithstanding  its  big  wages." 

However  much  I  might  have  felt  disposed  to  con- 
trovert such  a  sling  from  a  foreigner  unacquainted 
with  the  usages  of  our  naval  service,  I  found  my 
lips  unexpectedly  sealed  against  any  reply  to  this 
statement  of  one  whose  experimental  knowledge 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        303 

of  both  navies,  -was  more  extensive  than  my  own. 
Humiliating  as  was  the  picture  he  had  presented, 
to  an  American  mind,  it  was,  doubtless,  in  some 
respects,  a  true  one,  and  had  in  more  than  one 
instance  been  sustained  by  my  own  experience.  I 
soon  discovered  that  his  views  were  sustained  by 
all  my  former  shipmates,  then  on  board  the  Rod- 
ney ;  and  what  was  still  more  strange,  two  native 
Americans  who  had  deserted  from  the  Independ- 
ence on  her  visit  to  Portsmouth,  England,  and  who 
were  also  in  the  Rodney,  expressed  opinions  ad- 
verse to  the  service  of  Uncle  Sam.  Under  such 
an  amount  of  evidence,  I  ought,  perhaps,  to  have 
assented  to  the  superiority  of  John  Bull,  but  still 
I  did  not.  I  felt  too  much  native  American  pride 
to  have  submitted  to  the  ipse  dixit  of  twenty 
Jionest  Englishmen,  much  less  to  the  assertion  of  a 
few  mercenary  individuals  who  would  the  next  day 
have  entered  some  Mahometan  service,  could  they 
have  got  on  shore  at  Egypt  or  Constantinople. 

I  observed,  however,  that  the  discourse  of  these 
men  was  making  a  remarkable  impression  on  two 
Englishmen  belonging  to  our  boat.  They  spoke 
to  each  other  in  a  low  tone,  accompanied  with  nods 
and  winks ;  and  the  mention  of  Commodore  Nich- 
olson and  the  Preble,  told  very  plainly,  that  the 
treatment  they  had  received  in  the  Yankee  service 
was  not  such  as  to  prejudice  them  strongly  in  its 
favor.  The  truth  is,  the  idea  of  desertion  had 
taken  sudden  possession  of  their  minds,  and  could 


304       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

they  just  then  have  secreted  themselves  in  the 
Rodney,  or  placed  their  feet  on  the  neighboring 
beach,  it  is  questionable  whether  the  Fairfield 
would  not  have  lost  their  services  for  ever.  But  as 
it  was  they  were  obliged  to  resume  their  seats  in  the 
boat  and  return  home,  though  not  without  casting 
an  occasional  "longing,  lingering  look  behind." 

The  commander-in-chief,  being  desirous  of  join^ 
ing  the  squadron  at  the  earliest  possible  date,  re- 
appeared on  board  at  the  end  of  five  days,  and  the 
purser  having  completed  the  purchase  of  his  stores, 
we  hove  up  our  anchor  and  stood  out  of  the  bay. 
Our  next  place  of  destination  was  the  island  of 
Minorca,  lying  near  the  middle  of  the  Mediterra- 
nean, about  five  hundred  miles  in  a  north-easterly 
direction  from  Gibraltar.  In  consequence  of  a 
strong  head  wind  blowing  from  the  direction  of  the 
Levant,  more  than  a  week  was  consumed  in  this 
voyage.  •  All  obstacles  of  winds  and  storms  being, 
however,  eventually  conquered,  we  entered  the 
harbor  of  Port  Mahon,  near  the  latter  part  of 
September.  Here  we  found  the  Brandywine  and 
Preble,  lying  snugly  at  anchor.  As  soon  as  our 
fehip  was  moored,  the  Commodore  with  his  suite, 
took  his  departure  for  the  Brandywine,  which  was 
henceforth  to  be  regarded  as  the  flag-ship  of  the 
squadron. 


•1 


fn   which    the  Adventurer,  by  interesting  himself  in  a  Mutiny, 
meets  with  rather  rough  treatment. 

• 

POET  MAHON  is  situated  about  four  miles  from 
the  sea  coast,  on  the  Island  of  Minorca,  or  lesser 
of  the  Balearic  Isles.  The  town,  containing  some 
twenty  thousand  inhabitants,  has  a  neat  and  res- 
pectable appearance,  and  is  beautifully  located  on 
the  southwest  side  of  a  very  fine  bay.  The  en- 
trance to  the  harbor,  though  narrow,  is  unob- 
structed by  either  rocks  or  shoals,  and  when  once 
in,  the  bay  is  so  perfectly  land-locked  on  all  sides 
that  vessels  are  never  in  danger  of  being  wrecked, 
even  from  the  most  destructive  tempests.  This 
place  was  formerly  occupied  as  a  British  naval 
station,  but  since  the  acquisition  of  Malta  it  haa 
been  abandoned  by  the  English,  and  in  turn  become 
the  rendezvous  of  the  American  naval  forces. 
There  is  a  small  island  in  the  middle  of  the  bay, 
opposite  to  the  town,  on  which  are  erected  the 
naval  buildings,  all  of  which  are  under  the  control 
of  the  Americans,  and  occupied  as  store-houses, 
rigging-lofts,  carpenter-shops,  &c. 

The  former  presence  of  the  English,  and  the 

(305) 


306       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

continued  intercourse  of  the  Americans,  have  fa- 
miliarized many  of  the  citizens  with  the  English 
language  ;  but  the  common  mass  of  the  population, 
though  most  of  them  pique  themselves  on  speak-ee 
de  Inglese,  utter  nothing  but  a  mongrel  gibberish, 
•which,  to  an  ear  unaccustomed  to  the  sound,  is  for 
the  most  part  unintelligible.  The  curse  of  the 
population,  like  that  of  Madeira,  is  extreme  pov- 
erty; and  they  are  still  rendered  the  more  die- 
tressed  by  having  constantly  quartered  on  their 
slender  means,  from  four  to  five  thousand  Spanish 
soldiers.  The  place  is  in  a  manner  destitute  of 
commerce  and  shipping  of  almost  every  kind,  and 
hence  but  few  resort  to  maritime  life.  Some  do, 
however,  find  an  uncertain  employment  in  plying 
to  and  from  Carthagena,  ajnd  other  Spanish  ports 
on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean.  Mechanical 
employments  yield  so  scant  a  return  that  those  en- 
gaged in  them  are  little  better  off  than  beggars, 
while  agriculture  is  in  so  rude  a  state  as  scarcely 
to  be  known.  Gardening  comes  in  for  a  full  share 
of  attention,  so  far  at  least  as  the  markets  of  the 
town  are  concerned,  and  on  the  vegetables  thus 
raised,  most  of  the  inhabitants  depend  for  a  sub- 
sistence. The  high  price  of  meat  renders  it  a 
luxury  beyond  the  reach  of  the  common  mass, 
who,  on  the  least  failure  of  the  fisheries,  or  from  a 
scanty  supply  of  wheat  from  the  mother  country, 
are  often  in  a  state  of  hopeless  starvation.  It  is  a 
custom  among  the  officers  of  the  American  squad- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        307 

rons,  to  send  all  the  surplus  rations  of  the  men 
ashore,  on  soup  days,  in  a  barrel,  to  be  served  out 
to  the  poor.  It  is  a  laughable,  and  at  the  same 
time  a  melancholy  sight  to  see  the  old  and  infirm, 
and  the  youthful  poor,  rivalling  each  other,  sex 
against  sex,  in  endeavoring  to  procure  the  largest 
ladle  full  ;  while  the  rosiest  cheeked  maiden,  she 
of  the  most  winning  eye,  is  sure  always  to  have 
her  pannikin  filled  to  overflowing  by  the  liberal 
hearted  midshipman  superintending  the  distribu- 
tion. 

The  natives  of  Minorca,  like  those  of  most  other 
Catholic  countries,  are  passionately  fond  of  reli- 
gious parades,  shows,  masquerades,  and  fandangoes. 
One  third  of  that  time,  which  in  intelligent  com- 
munities would  be  passed  in  the  study  of  books,  or 
in  some  kind  of  intellectual  recreation,  is  here 
devoted  to  dancing  and  feasting.  Idleness  and 
ostentation  seem  as  inseparably  connected  as  igno- 
rance and  vice.  Nor  are  the  softer  sex  an  excep- 
tion to  the  rule,  for  the  women,  in  all  their  festivals, 
and  public  assemblies,  appear  to  rival  their  male 
friends  in  endeavoring  to  out-herod  Herod;  whether 
the  same  passion  predominates  among  the  higher 
class  of  the  female  population,  I  know  not.  I  only 
speak  of  those  among  whom  it  was  my  lot  to  fall. 
I  know  that  no  movement  within  my  knowledge  was 
ever  put  on  foot  among  them,  but  that  a  greater  or 
less  number  of  females  participated  in  it ;  and 
many,  out  of  pure  wantonness,  often  clothed  them- 


308        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

selves  in  male  attire,  that  they  might  carry  out 
their  schemes  to  the  more  complete  gratification  of 
their  tastes. 

The  summer  was  already  drawing  to  a  close 
when  we  arrived  at  Port  Mahon,  and  the  comman- 
der-in-chief,  deeming  it  important  to  make  a  visit 
up  the  Levant  before  cold  weather  set  in,  issued  his 
orders  for  the  squadron  to  prepare  immediately  for 
sea.  Captain  Tattnall,  however,  begged  time  to 
re-fit  the  rigging  of  the  Fairfield,  which  had  be- 
come so  loose  as  to  leave  her  masts  and  spars  in 
rather  a  shackling  condition.  To  favor  the  wishes 
of  our  captain,  the  commodore  delayed  the  sailing 
of  the  squadron  for  a  period  of  ten  days,  and  all 
the  men  of  our  crew  were  put  to  work  with  the 
utmost  dispatch  in  stripping  and  re-rigging  the 
vessel. 

We  completed  our  labors  in  due  time,  and  at  nine 
o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  tenth  day,  hoisted  on 
board  our  last  boat-load  of  provisions.  While  eat- 
ing our  supper  at  this  unusually  late  hour,  our  ears 
were  saluted  with  the  cry  of  "  All  hands  scrub 
hammocks."  The  men  were  completely  astounded 
at  so  unexpected  a  call  at  that  late  hour  of  the 
night,  and  broke  immediately  forth  into  murmurs, 
mingled  with  shouts  and  curses.  The  order  was 

O 

regarded  as  the  more  intolerable,  from  the  fact  that 
we  had  as  yet  received  but  one  set  of  hammocks, 
and  if  these  were  wet  and  hung  on  the  lines,  and 
the  decks  wet  with  scrubbing  them,  there  would  be 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        309 

no  place  to  spread  our  bedding,  and  we  would  ne- 
cessarily be  compelled  to  pass  a  sleepless  night  on 
our  feet,  or  in  leaning  against  the  guns.  This  was 
certainly  not  a  very  pleasing  prospect  to  a  com- 
pany of  men,  yet  panting  and  nervous  from  the 
effects  of  ten  days  severe  toil,  and  who,  on  the 
morrow,  were  again  to  put  the  anchors  to  the 
vessel's  bow,  and  buffet  afresh  with  the  waves 
and  storms  of  the  sea.  It  appeared  to  be  the 
settled  determination  of  the  crew  not  to  obey  the 
order  ;  and  those  few  who,  amidst  the  general  con- 
fusion, commenced  unslinging  their  bedding  for  the 
task,  were  frightened  from  it  by  the  threatening 
menaces  of  the  majority. 

While  the  storm  of  excitement  was  raging  on  the 
berth-deck,  the  marines  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
steerage,  had  meantime  carried  their  hammocks  on 
the  quarter-deck,  and  commenced  pouring  water  on 
them.  Some  of  the  sailors,  exasperated  beyond 
the  bounds  of  reason,  cursed  their  cowardice,  and 
assailing  them  with  iron  belaying  pins,  and  other 
missiles,  soon  drove  them  from  the  deck.  The  cap- 
tain, aroused  by  the  clatter  of  belaying  pins  and 
grape  shot  thundering  against  his  cabin  door,  sud- 
denly appeared  on  deck,  and  becoming  alarmed  at 
the  tumultuous  uproar  his  own  command  had  occa- 
sioned, passed  a  hasty  order  for  all  hands  to  be 
called  to  muster  abaft  the  mainmast.  In  ten  min- 
utes the  crew  were  all  gathered  on  the  quarter-deck, 


310       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

while  the  officers  ranged  themselves  round  the  cap- 
stan and  helm,  armed  with  cutlasses  and  swords. 

Finding  myself  unable  to  procure  a  stand  as  near 
the  centre  of  attraction  as  was  desirable,  I  slipped 
hastily  on  to  the  main  channels,  and  clambering  from 
thence  on  to  the  larboard  quarter-netting,  obtained 
a  position  from  which  I  could  see  and  hear  every- 
thing that  passed,  both  among  the  men  and  the  offi- 
cers. Midshipman  Turner,  and  the  teacher  of 
mathematics,  had  taken  their  stand  between  two 
of  the  quarter  guns  directly  beneath  where  I  was 
sitting. 

The  captain  made  his  appearance  before  the  men 
with  a  countenance  flushed  with  anger,  and  throw- 
ing his  sword  and  scabbard  on  the  capstan,  de- 
manded in  a  peremptory  tone,  to  know  the  cause 
of  the  disturbance.  But  nobody  spoke  ;  and  after 
a  reasonable  pause  he  broke  loose  upon  them  in  a 
shower  of  curses  that  bespoke  a  thorough  acquaint- 
anceship with  those  harsher  tropes  and  figures  of 
language^  that  all  except  gentlemen  know  so  well 
how  to  utter.  Having  thus  partially  delivered  him- 
self of  his  passion,  he  directed  the  petty  officers  to 
step  forth  in  a  body  from  the  crowd,  and  state  their 
grievances.  But  no  one  moved,  and  after  a  second 
pause  he  again  broke  forth. 

"  You're  an  admirable  set  of  men,  a'nt  you," 
exclaimed  he,  "  to  set  at  defiance  the  orders  of 
your  commander,  and  then  be  ashamed  to  give  him 
4  single  reason  for  doing  so  ?"  Is  there  one  man 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        311 

in  the  crowd,  who  can  enlighten  me  in  respect  to 
the  cause  of  this  disturbance  ?  If  there  is,  let  him 
speak  out?" 

The  appeal  of  the  captain  seemed  reasonable,  and 
as  no  one  of  the  petty  officers  appeared  to  show  any 
disposition  to  enter  into  an  explanation,  I  ventured 
to  raise  my  voice  from  the  hammock-netting. 

"  Captain  Tattnall" —  articulated  I,  when  a  gen- 
eral murmur  cut  short  my  sentence. 

"Silence  !"  exclaimed  the  captain.  "  Mr.  Whit- 
tle, see  that  those  men  are  kept  silent.  Who  is  that 
speaking  ?" 

"  It  is  me,  sir,"  answered  I.  "  I  was  about  to 
offer  an  explanation  of  the  present  difficulty." 

"  Well,  say  on,  that's  what  we  want  to  hear  !" 
cried  the  captain. 

"  The  whole  trouble  arises  from  the  circumstance 
of  having  only  one  set  of  hammocks,"  proceeded  I. 
"  If  these  are  wet,  and  the  decks  wet,  the  men  will 
have  nowhere  to  spread  their  bedding,  and  conse- 
quently nowhere  to  sleep." 

"  Why,  what  is  this  I  hear,  Mr.  Whittle  ?"  ex- 
claimed the  captain,  turning  to  the  first  lieutenant. 
"  Is  this  statement  correct  ?  Have  the  men  really 
but  one  set  of  hammocks  ?" 

Mr.  Whittle  admitted  that  such  was  the  case,  and 
observed  that  the  sail-maker  had  hitherto  been  too 
busily  occupied  in  other  employments  to  prepare  a 
Becond  set. 

"  An  unlucky  oversight,  indeed,"  ejaculated  the 


312       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

captain.  "  Had  I  known  it  sooner,  I  would  have 
suppressed  the  order  for  scrubbing  ;  but  since  it  haa 
been  given,  it  cannot  be  countermanded.  You 
must,  therefore,  all  go  forward,  my  lads,  and  scrub 
your  hammocks  with  a  will !" 

The  confusion  was  instantly  renewed  at  these 
words.  The  men  crowded  into  either  gangway 
with  cries  of  "  No  !  no  ! — we  won't  do  it — it's  a 
shame — the  order  may  go  to  the  devil !" 

The  captain  seized  his  sword,  as  if  his  whole  soul 
was  fired  with  a  sudden  stream  of  electricity,  and 
slinging  the  scabbard  half  way  across  the  deck,  to 
the  great  danger  of  a  midshipman's  head  that  hov- 
ered in  its  line  of  transit,  struck  the  naked  steel 
over  the  capstan  with  a  clang  that  threatened  to 
knock  everything  into  flinders. 

"  Who  is  this  hardy  villain  that  dares  to  lift  his 
voice  against  my  authority  ?"  cried  he,  jumping  up 
and  down  in  his  fury.  "  Let  me  see  the  face  of  the 
rascal  that  dares  tell  me  he  won't  scrub  his  ham- 
mock. Show  him  to  me — point  him  out,  that  I  may 
carve  my  way  through  his  mutinous  heart !  Come 
back  here  you  worthless  galley- slaves,  till  I  cut  the 
head  from  every  lubber  who  dares  to  tell  my  order 
to  go  to  the  devil.  Mr.  Whittle,  let  the  battle  lan- 
terns be  lighted,  and  send  a  midshipman  with 
orders  to  the  drummer  to  beat  to  quarters.  Mr. 
Boyle,  have  the  marines  filed  up  on  the  quarter- 
deck, with  ball  cartridge,  and  charged  bayonets,  and 
send  word  to  the  gunner  to  remove  the  pistols  and 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFOKE  THE  MAST.        313 

cutlasses  from  the  forward  ports.  I'm  determined 
to  quell  this  mutiny,  if  I  must  do  it  in  the  blood  of 
every,  man  in  the  ship  !" 

These  orders  of  the  captain  were  obeyed  to  the 
letter,  and  in  five  minutes  after  they  were  issued, 
the  beat  of  the  drum  was  heard  rolling  through  the 
ship.  All  hands  repaired  immediately  to  quarters 
wondering  among  themselves  what  could  be  the 
meaning  of  this  new  movement. 

When  the  ship  had  become  quiet  and  the  officers 
had  reported  the  divisions  all  present  and  in  order, 
the  captain  ordered  the  lieutenants  to  lead  their 
respective  commands  in  companies  to  the  quarter- 
deck. The  order  was  executed  with  very  slight 
confusion,  and  on  the  re-appearance  of  the  men 
abaft  the  mainmast,  the  purser's  steward  presented 
himself  with  the  ship's  roll  and  proceeded  to  calling 
the  names. 

"Number  one,"  read  the  purser's  steward. 

"  Here,  sir,"  answered  the  captain  of  the.  foie 
castle. 

"  Walk  round  the  capstan,"  said  the  first  lieu- 
tenant. 

The  petty  officer  moved  towards  the  capstan. 

"  Stop  !"  exclaimed  the  captain,  presenting  th* 
point  of  his  sword  at  his  breast.  "  I  am  going  to 
cut  down  the  first  villain  that  tells  me  to  my  faeo 
he  will  not  scrub  his  hammock.  Do  you  obey  my 
order,  or  do  you  not  ?" 

"  I  will  obey  it,  sir." 
27 


314        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  Go  on,  then,  and  see  that  you  do." 

"  Number  two." 

"  Here,  sir." 

"  Walk  round." 

"  Do  you  obey  my  order,  or  do  you  not  ?" 

"  I  will  obey  it,  sir." 

"  Go  on." 

"  Number  three." 

*  Here,  sir." 

"  Do  you  obey  my  order,  or  do  you  not  ?" 

"  I  obey  it,  sir." 

"  Oh,  yes !  I'll  warrant — all  getting  mighty 
willing  at  once.  Call  number  four." 

"  Here,  sir,"  said  number  four,  stepping  up. 

"  Do  you  obey  my  order,  or  do  you  not  ?" 

"  I  will  obey  it,  sir." 

"You're  a  brave  set  of  men,  truly,"  exclaimed 
the  captain,  indignantly,  at  the  servile  behavior 
of  the  men,  which  individual  safety  alone  drove 
them  to  assume.  "  In  a  crowd  you  think  you  can 
face  the  whole  world,  but  taken  singly,  you're 
nothing  but  a  set  of  rascally  cowards  after  all. 
Go  forward,  one  and  all  of  you,  and  scrub  your 
hammocks  forthwith,  and  he  that  has  his  not'  clean 
at  muster  on  to-morrow  morning,  goes  to  the  gang- 
way for  a  dozen  lashes  with  the  cat-o'-nine-tails. 
You  now  understand  the  alternative,  and  may 
choose  accordingly." 

The  men  seeing  the  utter  folly  of  acting  in  fur- 
ther opposition  to  the  commands  of  the  captain, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        315 

•jow  returned  forward  with  some  restoration  of 
order.  In  a  few  minutes,  brushes  were  heard  'at 
work  in  all  parts  of  the  ship ;  and  as  the  excite- 
ment of  the  night  had  been  such  as  to  deprive 
every  body  of  any  disposition  to  slumber,  there 
was  no  more  wrangling  as  to  how,  or  where  we 
should  sleep.  The  officers  uncertain  as  to  what 
further  occurrences  might  take  place,  kept  their 
stand  in  a  group  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  talked 
over  the  proceedings  among  themselves. 

Perceiving  at  last  that  the  ship  had  once  more 
become  quiet,  I  slipped  forward  out  of  the  main 
channels,  and  repaired  to  the  berth  deck  to  unsling 
my  hammock.  I  had  scarce  loosed  half  a  dozen 
netlines,  when  the  boatswain's  call  sounded  through 
the  ship,  with  the  cry  of  "  All  hands  witness  pun- 
ishment." Who  could  it  be  that  was  going  to  be 
whipped  at  that  hour  of  the  night,  was  a  question' 
that  flew  from  mouth  to  mouth,  but  which  no  one 
could  answer,  until  the  name  of  John  Place,  cap- 
tain of  the  forecastle,  was  echoed  through  the 
skip,  in  the  stentorian  voice  of  the  boatswain's 
mate.  All  hands  crowded  up  on  deck  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  gathered  about  the  mainmast. 

On  reaching  the  gangway  and  seeing  Place 
standing  there  in  a  quiet  manner,  awaiting  the 
movements  of  the  officers,  I  conceived  it  the  inten- 
tion of  the  captain  to  begin  his  punishment  with 
number  one  and  proceeding  round  the  whole  ship's 
company,  make  each  individual  a  victim  of  a  por- 


316        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tion  of  his  vengeance.  But  in  this  I  was  soon 
undeceived,  by  hearing  him  speak  of  Place  as  one 
of  the  ring-leaders  of  the  mutiny.  I  was  surpri- 
sed at  the  idea  of  Place  being  a  ring-leader,  as  I 
was  not  before  aware  that  the  events  of  the  night 
had  any  ring-leader  at  all.  If  there  was  any 
ring-leader  in  the  case,  the  captain  himself  was 
the  man,  for  every  thing  that  took  place  was  the 
natural  result  of  his  own  order — an  order  which  he 
himself  admitted  was  given  in  consequence  of  an 
oversight.  A  very  small  portion  of  common  sense 
might  have  taught  him  that  men  who  had  labored 
hard  for  ten  days,  would  desire  a  comfortable  night's 
rest ;  and  that  then  to  stick  them  in  by-places  and 
on  wet  decks,  without  beds,  was  not  the  best  method 
of  winning  their  confidence  or  securing  subordina- 
tion. Had  the  order  been  for  the  performance  of 
some  necessary  duty,  it  would  have  been  obeyed  with 
the  most  cheerful  alacrity ;  but  to  be  required  to 
make  a  sacrifice  of  their  own  personal  comforts, 
for  the  mere  purpose  of  enabling  the  captain  to 
look  upon  a  clean  set  of  hammocks  on  Wednes- 
day instead  of  Thursday  morning,  appeared  to  the 
men  a  downright  insult  to  their  worn  and  exhausted 
condition.  .  It  required  no  leaders,  under  such 
circumstances,  to  produce  a  row ;  and  it  would 
have  better  become  the  dignity  of  Captain  Tatt- 
nall,  who  withal,  was  a  very  excellent  officer,  to 
nave  smoothed  the  matter  over  without  resorting 
to  the  cat-o' -nine-tails,  and  giving  the  proceedings 


FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MART.        317 

the  pomp  and  parade  of  a  mutiny.  But  he  thought 
otherwise  ;  and  notwithstanding  what  had  taken 
£>1ace,  was  nothing  more  than  the  effects  of  his  own 
blunder,  he  proceeded  to  the  infliction  of  a  dozen 
lushes  on  the  hack  of  John  Place,  for  what  he  was 
pleased  to  term  mutiny ;  which  act  was  also  in 
open  violation  of  law,  for  the  articles  of  war  do  not 
empower  commanders  of  vessels  to  flog  for  mutiny, 
except  in  pursuance  of  the  sentence  of  a  court 
martial. 

On  the  dismissal  of  Place,  the  crew  again  re- 
paired to  their  respective  employments.  I  had 
scarcely  regained  my  hammock  when  my  own 
name  resounded  through  the  ship,  and  I  was  com- 
pelled once  more  to  hasten  to  the  spar-deck.  On 
clambering  up  the  fore-hatch,  I  encountered  the 
first  lieutenant,  who  flourished  his  sword  about  my 
head,  and  in  every  respect  seemed  moved  with 
unaccountable  passion. 

"You  accomplished  villain,  have  I  fastened  on  you 
at  last  ?"  ejaculated  he,  with  clenched  teeth,  and  at 
the  same  instant  a  blow  from  the  flat  side  of  his 
sword  descended  on  my  cheek,  sending  sparks  of 
fire  in  a  thousand  directions  from  my  eyes.  For  a 
moment  I  felt  faint,  though  I  did  not  fall ;  and  on 
putting  my  hand  to  my  face,  I  discovered  that  one 
of  my  teeth  was  partially  displaced,  while  the  blood 
began  to  ooze  gently  from  both  extremities  of  my 
lips.  I  drew  my  handkerchief  from  my  neck  and 
held  it  to  my  mouth,  to  prevent  the  blood  from 
27* 


318       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

trickling   down  on  deck,  which,  had  it  occurred 
would  more  than  likely  have  cost  me  an  additional 
punishment  with  the  cat-o'-nine-tails. 

"Away  with  you  to  the  quarter-deck,  you  muti- 
nous scoundrel !"  continued  Mr.  Whittle,  treading 
close  upon  my  heels  as  I  took  my  way  aft,  and  at 
each  step  showering  upon  me  every  species  of  vile 
and  unbecoming  imprecation. 

On  reaching  the  quarter-deck  I  found  the  sailing 
master,  the  teacher  of  mathematics,  and  midship- 
man Turner,  gathered  round  the  capstan,  in.  com- 
pany with  the  commander.  The  latter  demanded 
of  me,  if  I  were  the  man  who  had  previously  spoken 
from  the  hammock-netting. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  am,"  answered  I. 

"And  are  you  also  one  of  those  who  shouted  w0, 
when  I  ordered  you  forward  to  scrub  your  ham- 
mocks ?" 

"No,  sir;  I  am  not." 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  of  that  ?"  said  the  captain, 
with  a  penetrating  look. 

"  Captain  Tattnall,"  answered  I,  "  whoever  iden- 
tified me  as  the  person  who  spoke  from  the  netting, 
will  be  able  to  answer  that  question  more  to  your 
satisfaction  than  myself;  for  he  must  be  conscious 
whether  I  cried  no,  or  not,  while  on  the  netting, 
and  I  never  quitted  my  seat  until  after  the  men 
had  dispersed  forward." 

Upon  this  reply,  the  captain  turned  to  the 
teacher  of  mathematics,  who  had  stood  close  by  me 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        319 

at  the  time  referred  to,  and  who,  I  had  not  the 
least  doubt,  was  the  very  man  who  had  reported  me 
to  the  captain. 

"Did  you  hear  this  man  shout  wo,  in  disobe- 
dience of  my  order  ?" 

"No,  sir,  I  did  not,"  responded  the  teacher. 

"  Had  you  not  a  disposition,  in  the  beginning, 
to  disobey  my  order  in  concert  with  your  ship- 
mates ?"  proceeded  the  captain,  again  addressing 
me. 

"  I  had  not,  sir,"  replied  I. 

"  Then  why  did  you  not  scrub  your  hammock?' 

"  Because,  sir,  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  men  was 
so  general,  that  had  I  attempted  it,  I  should  have 
been  beaten  from  the  task,  as  some  of  .the  marines 
were." 

**  Then  you  were  only  restrained  from  your  duty 
by  the  opposition  of  the  rest  ?"  continued  the 
captain. 

"  That  is  all,  sir,"  replied  I. 

"  What  induced  you  to  speak  from  the  hammock 
netting  ?" 

"Your  appeals,  sir.  You  had  several  times 
called  on  the  petty  officers  for  a  statement  of 
their  grievance,  but  all  remained  silent.  I 
thought  an  explanation  was  necessary,  and  spoke 
accordingly." 

"  But  did  you  not  aid  in  stimulating  others  to  a 
resistance  of  my  order  ?" 

"  I  did  not,  sir.     I  trust  I  have  been  in  the 


320       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

service  long  enough,  and  served  in  ships  enough, 
to  know  the  consequences  of  acting  in  open  oppo- 
sition to  the  orders  of  a  commander,  and  I  should 
feel  very  reluctant  to  drag  other  men  into  diffi- 
culties that  I  hesitated  to  encounter  myself." 

Here  Mr.  Turner  touched  the  arm  of  the  captain, 
who  immediately  retreated  a  few  paces  on  the 
quarter-deck  to  speak  with  Mr.  Boyle.  He  pre- 
sently returned,  and  after  remarking  that  appear- 
ances were  scarcely  strong  enough  against  me  to 
implicate  me  seriously  in  the  disturbance,  dis- 
missed me  with  the  hope  that  my  future  conduct 
might  prove  such  as  would  show  that  his  confidence 
in  my  innocence  and  integrity  had  not  been  mis- 
placed. 

On  turning  to  quit  the  quarter-deck,  my  eyes 
glanced  at  the  first  lieutenant,  who  stood  a  few 
steps  aside,  his  anger  still  lowering  like  a  thunder- 
gust  in  his  looks.  I  felt  a  momentary  triumph  in 
the  thought,  that  though  he  had  taken  summary 
vengeance  on  me  himself,  his  hate  was  not,  in  the 
present  instance,  to  meet  with  the  further  gratifi- 
cation of  witnessing  my  sufferings  under  the  inflic- 
tion of  the  cat-o'-nine-tails.  His  looks  were  at  the 
moment  bent  in  the  direction  of  Mr.  Boyle,  who 
stood  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  capstan,  and  to- 
wards whom,  as  I  walked  forward,  I  felt  my  bosom 
bounding  with  renewed  feelings  of  gratitude,  for  I 
saw  plainly,  in  my  unexpected  dismissal,  the  fur- 
ther workings  of  his  unsought  benevolence.  The 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  M*ST.        321 

youthful  Turner,  who,  in  the  meantime,  had  been 
dispatched  with  an  order  to  the  quarter-gunners  to 
put  out  the  lights  in  the  battle  lanterns,  soon  fol- 
lowed me  to  where  I  was  scrubbing  my  hammock, 
and  taking  his  seat  on  a  shot-box  close  by,  en- 
livened the  operation  with  such  remarks  as  tho 
events  of  the  night  had  a  tendency  to  call 
forth. 

It  is  one  of  the  evils  of  the  naval  service,  that  'a 
Bailor  must  submit  to  every  species  of  insult  and 
»buse  that  officers  may  feel  disposed  to  heap  upon 
iim,  without  the  power  of  resenting  it,  and  without 
the  hope  of  redress.  If  an  officer  strike  a  man, 
and  the  matter  be  reported  to  the  commander,  a 
reprimand  may  follow,  or  it  may  not,  but  happen 
the  worst  punishment  that  can  to  the  offender,  it 
will  never  exceed  a  reprimand.  But  the  reprimand 
is  often  avoided  by  the  offender  pleading  passion 
in  extenuation  of  his  offence.  If  Mr.  Whittle 
knocks  me  down,  and  I  report  his  violence  to  the 
captain,  Mr.  Whittle  tells  the  captain  he  did  it  in 
a  passion,  and  the  plea  of  passion  covers  the  whole 
difficulty.  But  put  the  ship  on  the  other  tack, 
and  see  how  she  will  sail  then :  Suppose,  when  I 
recover  from  Mr.  Whittle's  knock-down,  I  jump 
up  and  give  him  a  good  knock  over  the  nose,  what 
follows  then  ?  Will  the  plea  of  passion  excuse 
me  ?  According  to  municipal  law,  he  is  guilty  of 
an  assault  and  battery  on  me,  and  I  am  only  acting 
in  self-defence ;  but  the  naval  regulations  that 


322        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

screen  him  under  plea  of  passion,  designate  my 
proper  punishment  for  resisting  him  to  he  that  of 
hanging.  A  court-martial  will  immediately  be 
convened  on  my  offence  for  striking  a  superior 
officer,  at  which  Mr.  Whittle  will  himself  sit  as 
judge,  and  sentence  me,  if  not  to  hanging,  to  a 
punishment  at  least  equally  as  intolerable. 

A  man  in  the  Independence,  named  Burns,  was 
collared  by  a  midshipman  whom  he  threw  down  for 
his  presumption  ;  and  though  the  young  gentleman 
was  not  the  least  hurt  in  the  fall,  yet  Burns 
was  subjected  to  a  court-martial,  and  sentenced  to 
three  hundred  lashes,  and  to  be  kept  in  chains  the 
remainder  of  the  cruise.  It  is  proper  to  observe, 
however,  that  Commodore  Nicholson,  conscious  of 
the  inhumanity  of  the  sentence,  remitted  one  third 
of  the  lashes ;  but  the  other  two  hundred  were  in- 
flicted on  him,  as  well  as  the  irons.  In  these 
rigorous  proceedings  against  Burns,  not  a  word 
was  permitted  to  transpire  in  reference  to  the 
assault  made  upon  him  by  the  redoubtable  mid- 
shipman Orlando. 

The  tenor  of  these  harsh  usages  would  seem  to 
imply,  that  officers  being  at  all  times  liable  to  act 
from  the  impulse  of  passion,  are,  therefore,  excusa- 
ble in  their  violations  of  discipline  ;  but  that  sailors, 
being  at  all  times  governed  by  consideration  and 
reflection,  commit  their  breaches  of  discipline  from 
calm,  premeditated  design,  and  are,  therefore  to  be 
punished  to  the  utmost  extent  of  the  law.  The 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        323 

veriest  blockhead  in  existence  would  at  once  per- 
ceive the  absurdity  of  such  a  deduction,  and  yet  it 
is  one  to  which  the  premises  inevitably  tend. 

While  yet  smarting  from  the  effects  of  Mr. 
Whittle's  blow,  I  did  think  at  times  of  trying  for 
redress,  if  it  should  not  even  amount  to  a  repri- 
mand. But  there  appeared  a  difficulty  even  in  the 
way  of  this.  The  regulations  prohibited  my  ap- 
proach to  the  captain,  except  through  permission 
of  the  first  lieutenant ;  and  any  one  will  readily 
understand  the  awkwardness  of  my  undertaking  so 
delicate  a  mission,  through  the  approval  of  one 
whose  most  friendly  wish  would  have  been,  to  see 
myself  and  mission  both  knocked  into  a  cocked 
hat.  The  thing  appeared  utterly  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, and  after  a  few  hours'  consideration  I  gave 
it  up. 

As  to  the  law,  though  it  entered  my  mind,  I  saw 
at  once  that  it  was  too  remote  to  bring  me  any 
relief.  National  municipal  law  never  extends  to 
the  Mediterranean,  and  had  I  been  disposed  to  take 
advantage  of  it  on  my  arrival  at  home,  its  delay 
would  have  outlived  the  lean  pockets  of  poor  Jack, 
whose  necessities  would  have  driven  him  to  abandon 
his  suit,  and  return  to  the  sea,  while  his  successful 
opponent  would  have  been  receiving  as  big  a  salary 
in  dancing  attendance  at  a  court,  as  in  following  ur 
his  calling  in  the  Mediterranean. 

With  the  first  appearance  of  dawn  on  the  follow 
ing  morning,  the  loud  report  of  the  Brandy  wine's 


324         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

gun,  rolled  along  the  waters,  conveying  in  its  harsh 
tones  the  order  for  the  squadron  to  be  moving. 
The  shrill  fife,  and  the  merry  drum,  soon  aroused 
the  men  from  their  lairs,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
events  of  the  foregoing  night  were  forgotten  in  the 
noise  and  bustle  of  unmooring  ship.  Early  as  was 
the  hour,  many  of  the  females  had  already  found 
their  way  from  the  town  to  the  ship  ;  and  when  the 
anchors  were  finally  brought  to  the  bows,  and  the 
vessel  began  to  move  off  under  her  spreading  can- 
vass, the  sad  and  dejected  looks  with  which  they 
took  their  leave,  betrayed  plainly  enough,  the  losa 
they  were  sustaining  in  our  absence.  The  sight  of 
three  noble  vessels  of  war  gliding  gracefully  down 
the  harbor,  had  something  in  it  so  attractive  that 
many  of  the  citizens  were  drawn  abroad  from  theii 
homes  to  look  upon  the  scene ;  and  on  passing  the 
village  of  Georgetown,  situated  near  the  mouth  of 
the  harbor,  the  soldiers,  mounting  to  the  top  of  the 
garrison,  greeted  us  with  a  merry  cheer,  and,  with 
hat  in  hand,  waved  their  adieus  until  distance  had 
shut  them  from  our  sight.  The  Brandy  wine  was 
the  first  to  obtain  the  offing  ;  and  the  commodore, 
soon  after,  designating  by  signal  the  order  of  sail- 
ing, the  two  subordinate  vessels  took  up  their  re- 
spective positions,  when  all  three  stood  boldly  away 
for  the  coast  of  Africa. 


fn  which  our  mechanic  sailor  sees  a  good  deal  of  stormy  weather, 
and  gets  a  peep  at  Mount  Etna. 

As  we  are  now  out  at  sea,  in  rather  squally 
weather,  and  as  it  will  be  several  days  before  the 
commander-in-chief  will  bring  us  again  to  anchor, 
1  will  avail  myself  of  the  interim  to  draw  aside  the 
curtain  of  the  ward-room,  and  show  the  reader 
some  of  the  scenes  enacting  in  the  purser's  depart- 
ment. 

I  have  in  a  former  chapter  more  than  hinted,  that 
American  pursers  often  visited  Gibraltar  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supplying  themselves  with  commodities  for 
speculation.  Our  purser  who  had  never  before  been 
up  the  Mediterranean,  either  understood  the  process 
of  money-making  in  this  region  by  intuition,  or  had 
been  led  into  the  mystery  of  it,  by  some  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Fairfield  ;  for  he  commenced  operations 
during  our  first  two  weeks  at  Port  Mahon,  with  an 
earnestness  that  threatened  to  sweep  everything 
of  a  money  kind  entirely  out  of  the  ship. 

My  respect  for  Captain  Tattnall  would  fain  ex- 
onerate him  from  all  participation  in  this  inexcu- 
sable system  of  peculation  and  plunder,  but  circum- 
stances in  so  many  instances  concurred  to  implicate 
28  ( 326 ). 


326         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

him,  that  I  fear  were  the  crew  called  to  sit  as  a  jury 
upon  his  conduct,  it  would  require  a  lawyer  of  mas- 
terly eloquence  to  obtain  him  a  verdict'of  acquittal. 
The  government,  on  every  national  ship  makes  am- 
ple provision  of  clothing  for  its  sailors  ;  and  instruc- 
tions are  given  for  the  distribution  of  these  stores 
to  the  pursers  of  the  respective  ships,  who  receive 
a  certain  percentage  for  their  trouble,  in  addition 
to  their  annual  salary.  But  the  pride  of  command- 
ers, superceding  that  of  the  government,  discards 
the  clothing  of  old  Uncle  Sam,  and  adopts  a  uni- 
form more  compatible  with  its  own  taste.  Captain 
Tattnall,  conceiving  the  humble  garb  provided  by 
the  nation  too  inelegant  in  cut  for  the  dandified 
appearance  of  the  men  under  his  command,  no 
sooner  landed  at  Port  Mahon,  than  he  ordered 
some  four  or  five  tailors  on  board  with  their  yard- 
sticks and  straps,  and  set  them  to  measuring  the 
men  for  new  suits  of  clothing.  These  suits  were  to 
be  made  of  cloths  of  a  superfine  texture,  which  the 
purser  had  the  admirable  foresight  to  provide  while 
lying  at  Gibraltar.  The  price  was  fixed  at  seven- 
teen dollars  per  suit,  while  those  of  the  government 
were  retailing  in  the  same  ship  at  nine.  The  dif- 
ference, then,  between  a  government  suit,  and  one 
provided  by  Purser,  Tailor  &  Co.,  was  just  eight 
dollars,  which  multiplied  among  an  hundred  aiul 
fifty  men,  would  make  the  sum  of  twelve  hundred 
dollars  to  be  brushed  into  the  coffers  of  the  purser 
at  a  single  sweep.  Not  a  slow  speculation,  Sam 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       327 

Slick  would  kalkalate,  for  a  man  to  make  in  the 
first  four  weeks  of  a  Mediterranean  cruise. 

In  connection  with  the  foregoing  commendable 
act  of  financiering,  I  must  also  call  attention  to 
some  speculations  of  minor  note,  but  which  be- 
trayed an  equal  dexterity  in  turning  a  penny.  The 
purser  had  the  precaution,  while  providing  his 
cloths,  to  lay  out  a  round  sum  of  government 
moneys  in  the  purchase  of  blue  flannel  and  linen 
sheeting,  for  men's  frocks.  These  articles  he  was 
now  retailing  to  the  sailors  at  a  profit  of  one  hun- 
dred per  cent.  The  captain  may  not  have  had  an 
interest  in  seeing  them  sold  at  so  high  a  price, 
though  he  recommended  the  men  to  the  purchase 
of  them,  and  carefully  instructed  the  officers  of 
the  respective  divisions  to  see  that  each  individual 
at  muster  was  properly  provided  with  linen  and 
with  flannels,  both  white  and  blue.  The  demand 
for  these  articles  would  naturally  have  ceased,  after 
the  first  supply,  for  a  few  months  at  least,  in  any 
common  ship  ;  but  the  Fairfield,  being  an  uncom- 
mon ship,  and  her  purser  an  uncommon  man,  it  was 
extremely  desirable  that  it  never  should  cease.  To 
this  end  it  soon  grew  a  custom  to  set  the  men  at 
some  kind  of  dirty  employment  whenever  they  were 
cleanly  clad,  by  which  means  their  linen  became 
soiled  with  pitch,  tar,  and  paint.  They  were  then 
prohibited  from  appearing  at  quarters,  unless  in 
frocks  of  the  most  spotless  white.  By  this  happy 
provision,  the  sailors  were  compelled  to  lay  their 


S28        IUVE  YEAUS  I>EFOHE  THE  MAST. 

soiled  frocks  aside  before  they  were  half  worn  out, 
and  a  continual  run  for  new  ones  was  kept  upon 
the  purser. 

The  men,  poor  fellows,  were  under  the  impres- 
sion that  when  once  more  out  at  sea,  they  would  for 
a  time  be  relieved  from  these  oppressive  purchases, 
but  in  this  they  were  widely  mistaken.  No  sooner 
had  we  reached  abroad  on  the  wide  waters  of  the 
Mediterranean,  than  the  captain  made  it  rulable  on 
every  calm  day  to  have  the  sailors  rigged  out  in 
their  holiday  finery,  and  as  soon  as  muster  was 
over,  to  pipe  all  hands  to  exercise  sail.  Away 
would  go  all  the  men  aloft,  hopping  and  skipping 
from  rope  to  rope  with  the  alacrity  of  squirrels, 
the  respective  topmen  vieing  with  each  other  to  see 
who  could  reef  and  unreef,  or  take  in  a  topsail  the 
quickest.  The  result  of  these  proceedings  com- 
monly was  that  one  man  would  lose  the  sleeve  of 
his  jacket,  another  a  cuff  or  a  collar,  and  a  third 
wpuld  be  split  open  like  a  locust  on  the  back,  while 
not  a  few  made  a  melancholy  descent  to  the  deck 
with  a  particular  portion  of  their  superfine  trow- 
sers  torn  and  mutilated,  and  the  fragments  flutter- 
ing like  a  ruptured  spanker  in  the  breeze.  These 
exercises  were  doubtless  extremely  gratifying  to  the 
purser,  who  saw  in  prospective,  through  the  rents 
of  the  tattered  garments  before  him,  new  requisi- 
tions for  seventeen  dollar  suits.  As  soon  as  the 
vessel  again  reached  Port  Mahon,  the  tailor  and 
the  yard-stick  were  once  more  in  demand ;  and  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       329 

poor  sailors,  perceiving  in  the  movements  some- 
thing like  a  collusion  against  their  interests,  gave 
up  in  despair,  and  talked  among  themselves  of 
making  an  assignment  at  once  to  the  purser  of  all 
their  wages,  both  due  and  in  expectancy. 

Those  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  machina- 
tions practised  among  officers,  will  perhaps  wonder 
why  sailors  permit  themselves  to  be  thus  humbug- 
ged, and  may  also  ask  why  it  was  that  the  men  did 
not  refuse  the  purchase  of  these  articles  ;  and  were 
the  question  propounded  to  an  officer,  he  would 
most  probably  answer  that  those  purchases  were 
entirely  at  the  option  of  the  men ;  that  they  were 
at  liberty  to  take  the  articles  or  let  them  alone. 
And  I,  myself,  must  admit  that  they  did  buy  them 
voluntarily,  though  with  the  thorough  conviction 
that  if  they  refused,  or  objected  to  receive  them,  a 
thousand  schemes  would  be  resorted  to  for  the 
purpose  of  annoying  them  into  submission.  A 
captain  might  not  openly  flog  a  man  for  refu- 
sing to  buy  of  the  purser  a  seventeen  dollar  suit, 
but  he  would  flog  him  for  appearing  at  muster  in  a 
nine  dollar  one,  which  in  eifect  would  be  the  same 
thing ;  and  the  sailor,  seeing  his  personal  safety 
compromised  between  the  two,  chooses  the  least 
painful  alternative.  There  was  not  a  man  in  the 
Fairfield  who  would  not  rather  have  saved  his  mo- 
ney than  waste  it  in  extravagance  of  dress,  had  he 
not  been  conscious  that  his  refusal  to  comply  with 
the  wishes  of  the  officers,  would  have  subjected  him 
'28* 


330       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

to  every  species  of  cruel  and  unjust  persecution. 
On  board  the  Brandywine,  where  a  similar  game 
was  carried  on,  the  men  did  openly  object  to  buy- 
ing the  flannel,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  dama- 
ged ;  but  Captain  Guysinger  insisted  on  their 
taking  it,  and  when  they  still  persisted  in  their 
objection,  he  put  them  in  double  irons,  and  actu- 
ally flogged  them  into  submission.  Hundreds  of 
yards  were  thus  forced  upon  the  ship's  company  in 
the  most  inhuman  manner  ;  and  to  what  extent  the 
captain  might  not  have  carried  his  barbarous  per- 
secution of  these  honest  sailors  for  refusing  to  be 
swindled  out  of  their  hard  earnings,  could  not  have 
been  foreseen  had  not  Commodore  Morgan  acciden- 
tally become  apprised  of  the  proceedings,  and  jus- 
tified the  men  by  putting  a  stop  to  them. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  commodore,  at  the 
time  of  leaving  Port  Mahon,  to  make  a  brief  visit 
up  the  Levant  as  far  as  Smyrna,  touching  at  Tunis, 
in  Africa,  and  such  other  intermediate  ports  as  lay 
in  the  track  of  his  route ;  but  on  arriving  opposite 
to  the  bay  of  Tunis,  he  found  himself  headed  off 
by  such  a  strong  south-easterly  wind,  that  he 
abandoned  his  intended  visit  to  that  place,  and 
shifting  his  course  stood  away  for  the  island  of 
Malta.  On  the  following  day  we  passed  in  sight 
of  Malta,  but  the  commander-in-chief  showed  no 
disposition  to  enter  the  harbor.  The  gales  from 
the  eastward  still  prevailing,  we  kept  beating  about 
for  two  or  three  days,  to  very  little  purpose,  and 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        331 

finally  bearing  up  to  the  south-eastern  coast  of 
Sicily,  soon  afterwards  came  to  anchor  in  the  har- 
bor of  Syracuse. 

On  mooring  otrr  vessels  in  the  bay,  the  health 
officers  of  the  town  approached  the  flag-ship,  and 
ascertaining  that  we  had  sailed  up  the  African 
coast,  prohibited  the  citizens  from  visiting  the  squad- 
ron, and  denied  us  pratique  until  we  had  undergone 
a  quarantine  of  twenty  days.  The  commodore 
objected  to  this  unnecessary  quarantine,  on  the 
grounds  that  there  were  not  the  slightest  symptoms 
of  any  contagious  diseases  on  board  the  squadron  ; 
but  finding  his  remonstrances  all  in  vain,  he  re- 
solved to  make  his  stay  in  the  port  no  longer  than 
until  a  favorable  change  of  wind  should  take 
place.  So  fearful  were  the  officers  of  contracting 
some  horrible  malady  from  us,  that  when  it  became 
necessary  to  inspect  some  of  the  commodore's 
papers,  they  received  them  from  the  side  of  the 
ship  with  tongs  some  twelve  feet  in  length,  and  held 
them  over  a  fire,  fixed  for  the  purpose  in  the  bow 
of  their  boat,  to  smoke  out  the  contaminating  efflu- 
via before  venturing  to  touch  them.  A  like  pre- 
caution was  also  observed  by  the  citizens,  who 
undertook  to  furnish  provisions  for  the  squadron. 
The  beef  being  laid  on  the  sea  shore,  the  natives 
stood  afar  off  until  it  had  been  deposited  in  the 
boats  by  our  men,  upon  which  they  would  approach 
near  the  spot  where  the  money  had  been  left  lying, 
and  seizing  the  cash  with  their  pole-like  tongs,  stick 


332       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

it  into  the  fires  of  a  portable  furnace  before  pock- 
eting it. 

Sicily,  the  garden  of  Europe,  and  the  most  fer- 
tile country  in  the  world,  presents  but  few  attrac- 
tive features  along  its  south-eastern  coast  and  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Syracuse,  though 
to  the  northward  the  country  swells  gradually  into 
pleasing  undulations  and  hills,  from  amid  which, 
like  a  gigantic  pyramid  piercing  the  very  clouds, 
rises  the  murky  outline  of  the  great  Mount  Etna. 
This  celebrated  mountain  is  said,  by  some  writers, 
to  be  two  miles  in  perpendicular  height,  one  hun- 
dred miles  in  circumference  at  its  base,  and  to  have 
been  adorned  along  its  sides,  at  one  time,  with  no 
fewer  than  seventy-seven  cities  and  villages.  Its 
appearance  from  Syracuse,  though  over  thirty 
miles  distant,  is  certainly  beautiful  and  pictur- 
esque, and  when  viewed  through  a  glass,  the  wood- 
land scenery  along  its  sloping  sides,  displays  almost 
every  hue  of  the  seasons,  from  the  deep  verdure  of 
midsummer  to  the  last  expiring  tints  of  autumn, 
the  latter  betraying  their  faint  glimmer  in  the 
scanty  vegetation  barely  perceptible  amid  the  sur- 
rounding scoria,  which  in  its  turn  becomes  lost 
beneath  massive  accumulations  of  ice  and  snow. 
Along  its  eastern  base  it  is  washed  by  the  waters 
of  the  Mediterranean,  from  whose  sunny  bosom 
its  dark  and  craggy  form  rises  into  the  heaven,-. 
with  magnificence  and  grandeur,  inspiring  the  mind 


• 

FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        333 

of  the  passing  mariner  with  feelings  of  admiration 
and  awe. 

Of  the  city  of  Syracuse,  but^ittle  can  be  said, 
and  indeed  but  little  need  be  said,  for  it  is,  doubt- 
less, ashamed  of  its  own  existence,  and  seems 
crouching  away  from  the  world  like  a  decrepid 
beggar,  dying  amid  the  ruins  of  departed  manhood. 
This  great  wonder  of  the  Mediterranean — this 
vast  city  that  once  covered  an  area  of  twenty- 
two  miles  in  circumference,  and  whose  genius 
baffled  the  combined  skill  of  the  Roman  powers — 
this  pride  of  Sicily,  that  could  at  one  time  boast 
her  half  a  thousand  ships  of  war,  and  her  two 
hundred  thousand  soldiers,  and  who  still  boasts  of 
retaining  in  her  decaying  bosom  a  church  in  which 
once  resounded  the  eloquence  of  St.  Paul — this 
great  mart  of  nations — this  home  of  Archimedes, 
has  dwindled  down  tc*  a  mere  hamlet,  destitute  of 
life,  destitute  of  commerce,  aad  in  which  assemble 
to  nightly  rest,  a  population  of  a  few  thousand 
paupers.  The  crumbling  ruins  that  lie  in  scattered 
fragments  along  the  shores  of  the  bay,  give  here 
and  there  some  faint  traces  of  her  former  great- 
ness ;  but  even  these  serve  to  impress  upon  the 
place  a  deeper  gloom,  and  to  increase  the  general 
and  the  death-like  desolation  that  every  where 
abounds.  The  inhabitants  themselves  lack  the 
cheerful  appearance  of  a  people  accustomed  to  the 
full  enjoyment  of  civil  and  religious  rights.  The 
hand  of  the  oppressor  has  seized  upon  them  with 


334        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

an  irrelinquishable  grasp,  and  smothered  within 
their  bosoms,  all  aspirations  for  noble  action  and 
daring  enterprise.*  There  is  no  longer  existing 
among  them  that  activity  and  genius  that  once 
constructed  temples,  erected  palaces,  and  filled  the 
sea  with  ships ;  and  the  very  harbor  that  once 
gave  shelter  to  the  fleets  of  Carthage  and  the 
navies  of  Rome,  is  now  obstructed  by  piles  of 
drift  and  accumulations  of  sand.  Liberty  and 
happiness  have  long  since  taken  their  departure 
from  among  this  people  for  more  genial  climes, 
and  rolling  themselves  westward  beyond  the  Alps, 
and  over  the  oppressed  nations  of  France  and  Spain, 
have  finally  constructed  their  dwelling  amid  tho 
homes  of  America — among  a  people  of  whose 
birth-place  the  utmost  ken  of  Italian  glory  could 
never  form  the  most  remote  conception,  but  the 
feet  of  whose  sons  and  daughters,  nevertheless, 
trace  occasionally  those  groves  and  fields,  which 
the  poets  and  philosophers  of  a  more  lustrous  age, 
have  rendered  forever  memorable  to  the  world. 
What  prophetic  dreamer  in  the  days  of  the  Dio» 
nysii,  would  have  thought  of  a  country  emerging 
from  amid  the  waters  of  the  eastern  seas — of  a 
nation  springing  into  existence  far  beyond  the 
mystic  coasts  of  the  fabled  Atlantis,  whose  ships 
would  one  day  pass  the  pillars  of  the  famed  Her- 
cules, and  traverse  the  waters  of  the  western  seas? 
So  wild  an  enthusiast  would  have  been  ridiculed  for 
his  madness;  and  yet,  this  seemingly  impossible 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        335 

dream,  was  most  wonderfully  realised.  The  ships 
of  America  were  now  at  anchor  in  the  same  bay, 
where  once  had  concentrated  the  naval  forces  of 
the  world — the  banner  of  the  stripes  and  stars 
was  waving  joyously  in  view  of  that  very  Etna, 
whose  snow-clad  summit  had  overlooked  the  gene- 
rations of  five  thousand  years,  and  which  still 
stood  majestically  before  us,  like  a  monument  of 
the  once  existing  glory  of  Sicily. 

The  Sicilians,  still  persisting  in  making  "us  lay 
out  our  quarantine,  the  commodore,  at  the  end  of 
five  days,  made  a  signal  for  the  squadron  to  get 
under  way.  The  ships  immediately  unmoored,  and 
spread  their  canvass  to  the  breeze.  The  wind 
being  southerly,  the  Fairfield,  which  lay  furthest 
in-shore,  was  compelled  to  make  a  tack  or  two  to 
windward,  in  order  to  gain  the  offing.  In  this 
manoeuvre  she  ran  a  little  too  near  the  shore  and 
stuck  upon  a  sand  bar.  This  disaster  caused  a 
good  deal  of  confusion  on  board.  All  sail  was 
immediately  taken  in,  the  boats  were  hoisted  out 
loaded  with  the  anchors,  which  were  conveyed  to 
moorings  at  some  distance  from  the  ship.  Kedges, 
eheet  and  chain  cables,  and  hawsers,  were  hastily 
brought  into  requisition,  and  every  exertion  made 
to  relieve  ourselves  from  our  embarrassing  diffi- 
culty. The.  commodore  having  witnessed  our  mis- 
fortune from  the  offing,  sent  the  Preble  back  to 
our  assistance ;  but  that  vessel,  in  approaching 
us,  finding  herself  in  danger  of  a  similar  fate,  has- 


336        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  ins  MAST. 

tily  about  ship  and  proceeded  to  sea.  After  a  few 
hour's  faithful  perseverance,  we  were,  however, 
once  more  afloat ;  and  standing  directly  out  of  the 
harbor,  we  bid  farewell  to  Syracuse  and  made  the 
best  of  our  way  in  pursuit  of  the  commodore. 

The  sea  is  often  upbraided  for  its  treachery,  but 
it  is  questionable  whether  it  is  half  so  treacherous 
as  the  winds.  Two-thirds  of  those  dire  calamities 
occurring  at  sea,  are  more  directly  duo  to  the 
havoc  of  storms  and  hurricanes,  than  to  the  wan- 
tonness of  the  waters.  There  is  no  part  of  the 
Mediterranean  that  usually  presents  a  more  serene 
and  delightful  appearance  than  that  around  Sicily 
and  the  Lipari  islands,  nor  at  the  same  time,  is 
there  any  place  in  the  world  more  liable  to  sudden 
storms.  It  seems  as  if  the  atmosphere  in  these 
volcanic  regions,  was  at  all  times  charged  with  a 
superabundance  of  electricity,  which  the  slightest 
vapor  is  sufficient  to  set  in  a  roar.  A  single  hour 
often  suffices  to  change  a  scene  of  the  most  calm 
and  placid  beauty  into  that  of  a  howling  and 
bounding  tempest. 

Beautiful  as  was  the  evening  of  our  departure 
from  Syracuse,  we  had  scarcely  stowed  away  our 
sheet  cable  and  cleaned  up  the  decks  for  sea,  when 
a  flash  of  lightning  and  a  clap  of  thunder  "breaking 
from  a  cloud  wheeling  up  on  our  larboard  quarter, 
admonished  us  that  danger  was  stalking  abroad  on 
the  waters.  The  officer  of  the  deck  paid  at  first, 
but  little  heed  to  this  signal  guu  of  the  elements, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        337 

but  soon  observing  the  heavens  in  every  direction, 
lowering  upon  us  with  the  most  threatening  aspect, 
he  proceeded  to  taking  in  the  studding  sails,  and 
striking  the  top-gallant  sails.  In  an  hour  from  the 
appearance  of  the  first  cloud  above  the  horizon, 
we  found  ourselves  struggling  and  buffeting  with  a 
tremendous  storm. 

As  before  observed,  the  wind  was  southerly,  and 
as  we  were  bearing  to  the  northward,  along  the 
eastern  coast  of  Sicily,  the  ship  was  permitted  to 
scud  ahead  under  close  reefed  topsails.  The  storm 
kept  pelting  away  with  unabated  fury,  during  the 
whole  of  the  night ;  and  the  wind  wh'ich  at  first 
blew  in  fits  and  squalls,  became  by  degrees  more 
steady,  and  appeared  to  be  strengthening  into  a  gale. 
About  two  o'clock  at  night,  the  lookout  on  the 
bow,  becoming  alarmed  at  the  formidable  appear- 
ance of  the  waves  rolling  in  advance  of  the  ship, 
raised  a  terrifying  cry. 

"Breakers  ahead." 

"Where  away?"  shouted  the  officer'  of  the 
watch. 

"  Right  ahead,  sir." 

"  How  far  off?" 

"  About  three  lengths  of  the  ship,  sir." 

"Port your  helm,  hard  aport,"  cried  the  officer 
to  the  steersman. 

The  ship  suddenly  rounded  to  windward,  and 
bounded  into  the  eye  of  the  tempest  like  a  tightly 
reined  courser. 

•     29 


338       FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  How  do  they  bear  now,"  shouted  the  officer. 

"About  two  points,  close  under  the  lee  bow, 
sir." 

"  Let  go  the  larboard  sheet  anchor,"  continued 
he  of  the  trumpet. 

*'  There  is  no  cable  bent,  sir,"  shouted  the  cap- 
tain of  the  forecastle. 

"  No  matter — let  it  go,  and  be  hanged  to  you, 
when  I  tell  you,"  responded  the  lieutenant. 

"  Let  it  go — let  it  go,"  cried  two  or  three  men, 
crowding  round  the  captain  of  the  forecastle,  who 
had  sprung  to  the  cathead  to  prevent  the  loss  of 
the  anchor.  "Let  it  go,  man, -the  officer  of  the 
deck  says  so." 

"  I  don't  care  a  chaw-tobacker  if  he  does,"  ans- 
wered the  sturdy  petty  officer,  seating  himself 
calmly  on  the  strap  of  the  anchor.  "  The  anchor 
is  worth  more  nor  he  is  ;  and  if  it  must  go  to 
Davy  Jones',  it  shall  go  in  company  with  the  rest 
of  us." 

By  this  time  the  plunging  of  the  vessel,  together 
with  the  shouting,  aroused  the  captain,  who  sud- 
denly appearing  on  deck,  seized  a  night  glass  and 
hastened  to  the  forecastle.  After  scanning  the 
sea  in  all  directions,  he  was  convinced  that  our 
movements  were  the  result  of  a  false  alarm,  and 
ordering  the  ship  to  be  again  put  on  the  proper 
course,  retired  to  the  cabin. 

On  the  approach  of  daylight  we  discovered  the 
Brandy  wine  and  Preble,  both  hove  too  in  the  mouth 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        339 

of  the  Straits  of  Messina.  Both  ships  began  to 
make  sail  on  our  approach ;  and  as  soon  as  we  were 
near  enough  to  distinguish  the  signal  of  the  com- 
modore, the  latter  bent  his  course  swiftly  down  the 
Straits.  The  Preble  and  Fairfield  followed  with 
equal  rapidity  in  the  wake  of  the  Brandywine,  and 
in  a  few  hours  arrived  in  front  of  Messina,  without 
having  encountered  the  dangers  of  either  Scylla  or 
Charybdis.  The  commodore's  ship  having  broached 
to  in  the  direction  of  the  city,  the  other  two  vessels 
came  to  a  halt  to  watch  the  result  of  his  manoeuvres. 

On  receiving  a  visit  from  the  health  officers,  and 
finding  them  disposed  to  sustain  the  quarantine 
imposed  upon  him  at  Syracuse,  the  commodore 
again  changed  the  course  of  his  ship,  and  stood 
away  in  the  direction  of  the  Lipari  Isles.  It  was 
now  becoming  pretty  evident  to  the  men,  that  the 
intended  visit  to  the  Levant  had  been  abandoned, 
and  that  our  present  place  of  destination  was  the 
port  of  Naples.  The  discovery  however,  was  pro- 
ductive of  no  dissension  among  the  crew,  as  none 
had  been  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  a  cruise 
among  the  Archipelagos,  and  all  anticipated  a  more 
agreeable  treat  at  Naples,  than  at  Smyrna. 

The  day  was  disagreeable  in  the  extreme.  The 
wind,  blew  still  in  a  heavy  gale  from  the  south, 
mingled  with  terrific  thunder,  and  drenching  show- 
ers of  rain.  The  sea,  lashed  into  anger  by  the 
warring  tempest,  reared  her  foam-crested  waves  in 
fury  against  our  stern,  tossing  and  pitching  us  vio- 


340        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

lently  ahead,  amid  clouds  of  mist  and  spray.  The 
night  closed  in  upon  us  with  a  double  darkness, 
while  the  raving  elements,  received,  if  possible,  an 
additional  flash  of  horror  from  the  fires  of  Mount 
Stromboli,  the  light  of  whose  belching  flames, 
glared  across  the  waters  with  a  crimson  hue,  ren- 
dering the  pillow  of  their  ocean  bed  visible  even  to 
the  summit  of  the  distant  Appenines.  For  more 
than  half  the  night  we  held  our  onward  course  be- 
neath the  bright  glimmer  of  the  mountain,  and  when 
the  morning  dawned,  and  we  had  passed  far  to  the 
northward  of  it,  the  smoke  and  dust  that  had  gath- 
ered about  its  northern  summit,  rushed  darkly  down 
upon  the  troubled  waters,  and  pursued  us,  for 
leagues,  amid  the  driving  mists  of  the  sea. 

This  day  was  little  better  than  the  former. 
Though  less  rain,  the  winds  remained  the  same, 
both  in  course  and  volume.  We  still  dashed  ahead 
however,  during  the  whole  of  the  day,  and  when  the 
darkness  of  night  again  shrouded  our  course,  though 
yet  many  miles  from  port,  there  seemed  so  much 
recklessness  in  running  directly  upon  the  coast,  du- 
ring so  rough  a  storm,  that  the  commodore  directed 
us  to  shorten  sail,  and  ride  at  ease,  until  the  ap- 
proach of  day.  At  the  first  appearance  of  the 
dawn,  we  renewed  our  rough  journey,  and  about 
Dine  o'clock  A.  M.  glided  past  the  little  isles,  adorn- 
ing the  outer  circuit  of  the  most  picturesque  bay 
in  all  Europe.  After  a  brief  interval  of  another 
hour,  the  squadron  dropped  anchor  in  the  bay  of 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        341 

Naples,  and  our  ship  rounded  to  windward,  some 
hundred  rods  in  front  of  the  city. 

The  weather,  on  the  day  of  our  arrival,  was  so 
stormy  that  the  health  officers  were  unable  to  visit 
the  squadron.  It  would  have  been  utterly  impos- 
sible for  an  open  boat  to  have  advanced  three  rods 
from  the  shore,  without  being  swamped  in  the  surf 
that  was  rolling  and  dashing  its  white  spray  into  the 
very  streets  of  the  city.  The  wind  still  continued 
blowing  from  the  south,  sending  the  huge  breakers 
thundering  into  the  bay,  with  a  howl  that  alarmed 
many  old  sailors,  long  accustomed  to  the  dangers 
of  the  sea.  One  anchor  being  insufficient  to  hold 
the  ship,  a  second  was  let  go,  and  perceiving  that 
she  still  receded  from  her  moorings,  a  sheet  anchor 
was  dropped.  The  three  finally  brought  her  to  a 
stand,  upon  which  she  commenced  plunging,  with 
a  desperation  that  threatened  to  engulf  her.  Each 
tremendous  billow,  swept  upon  her  bows  with  a 
force  that  sent  the  blue  waters  streaming  over  the 
top-gallant  forecastle,  and  along  the  gangways  to 
the  very  helm.  The  captain,  appreciating  our 
danger,  had  the  top-gallant  yards  sent  down  from 
aloft,  and  the  top-gallant  masts  struck ;  while  sev- 
eral of  the  bow  guns,  were  in  the  meantime,  re- 
moved to  the  afterpart  of  the  ^hip-,  and  secured  on 
the  quarter-deck.  The  beneficial  effects  of  these 
arrangements  were  soon  perceptible,  and  finding 
that  the  cables  were  much  relieved,  we  began  to 
consider  ourselves  comparatively  safe.  The  Bran- 
29* 


342         FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  TUB  MAST. 

dywine  appeared  to  ride  out  the  gale  with  the  ma- 
jesty of  a  ship  long  accustomed  to  braving  the  ter- 
rors of  the  sea,  while  the  Preble  kept  plunging  and 
tossing  more  wildly,  if  possible,  than  ourselves.  A 
French  brig  of  war,  which  lay  a  short  distance  from 
us,  had  housed  all  her  upper  spars,  and  having 
nothing  aloft  to  keep  her  head  to  windward,  she 
sheared  into  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and  rolled  from 
side  to  side,  with  a  fury  that  more  than  once,  bu- 
ried her  hammock-nettings  beneath  the  boiling 
•waters. '  One  of  her  quarter-boats  was  dashed  from 
the  davits,  and  drifting  in  the  direction  of  our 
ship,  was  rescued  by  some  of  the  crew,  and  subse- 
quently restored  to  the  French  commander.  An 
English  merchant  brig,  which  was  moored  a  .short 
distance  from  our  stern,  suddenly  parted  her  ca- 
bles, and  bounding,  stem-foremost,  on  a  reef  of 
rocks,  that  intervened  between  her  and  the  shore, 
turned  over  on  her  side,  and  plunged  upon  the 
beach,  a  total  wreck,  her  bowsprit  protruding  across 
the  front  street  of  the  city  in  contact  with  the 
houses.  The  crew  were  however  fortunately  saved 
by  the  timely  assistance  of  a  life-boat  from  the 
shore. 


* 

NOTE. — The  naval  practice  of  sharing  ship's  companies  out  >i 
their  wages  has  been  obviated  in  part  by  the  establishment  of 
fixed  salaries  to  pursers  in  lieu  of  the  former  percentage. 


A  Yankee  mechanic  on  a  sailor's  beat  in  Naples. 

IF  the  day  of  our  arrival  at  Naples  was  bois- 
terous and  unpropitious,  it  was  more  than  compen- 
sated by  the  beauty  of  that  which  followed.  The 
battling  elements  had  ceased  their  strife  during  the 
preceding  night,  and  the  morning  dawned  upon  the 
waters  of  a  bay  as  smooth  and  silvery  as  the  unruf- 
fled bosom  of  a  lake.  The  ascending  sun  rose  in 
cloudless  majesty  through  the  mellow  atmosphere 
of  an  Italian  sky,  and  cast  his  sparkling  beams 
across  the  dim  Vesuvius,  shortening  its  dark  shadow 
on  the  bay,  and  lighting  up  the  rich  autumnal  foli- 
age of  its  sides  with  a  mingled  livery  of  green  and 
violet.  The  appearance  of  this  mountain  is  far 
less  imposing  than  that  of  Etna,  though  its  con- 
tiguity to  Naples,  and  the  beautiful  country  around, 
give  it  an  equal,  if  not  a  greater  interest  in  the 
minis  of  travellers.  The  top  seems  to  have  been 
separated  by  some  fearful  convulsion,  leaving  a 
ch?3m  extending  nearly  one-third  of  the  way  down 
its  centre,  portions  of  which  are  nearly  half  filled 
up  with  rocks,  dust,  and  scoria.  The  crater  is  evi- 
d^itly  in  the  portion  of  the  summit  next  to  the 

(343) 


344       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

sea  ;  and  though  no  flames  issue  from  it,  the  vol 
umes  of  smoke  mantling  in  circling  eddies  over 
it,  give  ample  evidence  of  those  ceaseless  fires 
that  once  sent  their  destructive  lavas,  with  ocean 
power,  over  the  ill-fated  cities  of  Herculaneum 
and  Pompeii. 

The  bay  of  Naples  is  semi-circular  in  form,  the 
line  of  curve  describing  its  circuit  between  two 
capes,  one  of  which  is  adorned  with  the  dark  form  of 
Vesuvius,  and  the  other  with  a  portion  of  the  city  of 
Naples.  The  southern  side  being  open  to  the  sea, 
readily  accounts  for  the  roughness  of  its  waters 
during  the  prevalence  of  southerly  winds.  An 
artificial  mole,  for  the  better  security  of  ships,  is 
constructed  in  front  of  the  city;  but  vessels  of 
war,  having  always  an  abundance  of  hands  to  meet 
any  emergency  of  danger,  never  think  of  taking 
shelter  in  it. 

On  complaint  of  the  commodore,  of  the  unjust 
quarantine  imposed  upon  us  at  Syracuse,  the  au- 
thorities of  Naples  at  once  remitted  the  remaining 
ten  days,  and  permitted  the  squadron  to  have  im- 
mediate intercourse  with  the  shore.  Upon  this 
some  of  the  officers,  as  well  as  men,  obtained  leave 
of  absence.  Our  captain  had  made  it  rulable,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  cruise,  to  give  the  sailors 
leave  of  absence  in  the  rotation  of  their  messes, 
and  all  the  messes  preceding  mine,  in  the  order  of 
their  numbers,  having  been  on  shore  at  Port  Ma- 
lion,  it  became  my  turn  now.  Leave  and  money 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE«MAST.        345 

far  a  thirty-six  hour's  ramble  having  been  obtained, 
some  twelve  of  us  bounded  into  a  boat,  and  were 
soon  landed  near  the  steps  of  a  grim  looking  castle 
that  overlooked  the  bay  with  a  more  formidable 
aspect  than  even  the  city-destroying  Vesuvius, 
breathing  forth  her  volumes  of  smoke  some  four 
miles  in  front. 

If  I  had  been  surprised  at  the  death-like  dull- 
ness and  inactivity  of  Syracuse,  I  was  doubly  aston- 
ished at  the  life,  animation,  and  vivacity  of  Naples. 
Her  vast  population,  of  nearly  four  hundred  thou- 
sand souls,  seemed  to  have  crowded  itself  into  the 
streets.  Here  might  be  seen,  in  the  immense 
crowds  before  me,  the  varied  features  of  civiliza- 
tion in  their  brightest  and  darkest  colors.  Here, 
like  a  vision,  flitted  before  my  sight  an  endless 
panorama  of  beauty  and  deformity,  wealth  and 
poverty,  virtue  and  vice,  wisdom  and  ignorance. 
Here  stalked,  side  by  side,  the  noble  and  the  live- 
ried menial,  the  foreign  soldier  and  the  native  citi- 
zen, the  mitred  cardinal  and.  the  mountain  robber, 
the  cowled  priest  and  the  midnight  pilferer,  the 
jewelled  lady'  and  the  beggared  maiden,  and  even 
the  nun  and  the  courtezan,  all  intermingling  in  one 
vast  crowd,  and  jostling  each  other  amid  the  shouts, 
cries,  whines,  and  curses  of  the  half-clad  beggars 
that  thronged  by  hundreds  in  every  thoroughfare. 
Every  thing  in  this  densely  populated  city  seemed 
running  into  strange  and  disjointed  extremes,  from 
the  titled  prince,  feasting  on  the  most  costly  vianda 


346       FIVE  SEARS  BEFOKE  THE  MAST. 

in  the  vestibule  of  his  palace,  to  the  meanest  and 
most  woe-begone  mendicant,  brooding  along  the 
pavement  over  his  solitary  horse-chestnut.  Alas  ! 
thought  I,  if  this  metropolis  of  the  two  Sicilies  can 
boast  her  hundred  princes,  she  can  also  boast  her 
forty  thousand  vagabonds  ;  if  she  can  point  the  eye 
of  the  stranger  to  her  palaces,  her  grotto,  and  her 
marble  fountains,  she  can  also  point  him  to  her 
dungeons,  her  prison  ships,  and  foreign  dogs  of 
war.  The  tyrant  that  feels  his  soul  thrill  with 
pride,  in  gazing  on  his  own  statue,  bestriding  a 
marble  steed  within  the  colonnades  of  his  royal 
chapel,  may  also  tremble  at  the  sigh  of  vengeance 
rising  from  the  struggling  bosoms  of  the  dying 
patriots  of  Italy ;  and  when  he  himself  follows  those 
whom  his  inhumanity  has  hastened  to  an  untimely 
grave,  let  him  draw  a  happy  consolation  from  the 
thought  that  his  tomb  will  be  loaded  with  the 
curses  of  his  subjects,  and- his  memory  followed  by 
the  maledictions  of  a  people  whose  homes  have 
been  rendered  desolate  by  his  heartless  rapacity. 

On  penetrating  into  the  city,  our  foreign  costume 
rendered  us  objects  of  particular  attention  to  a 
certain  class  of  citizens.  We  were  instantly  sur- 
rounded by  about  fifty  people,  who  seemed  all 
eager  to  serve  us  in  some  way,  with  the  hope  of 
obtaining  a  few  pennies.  But  we  waived  them  from 
us,  and  continued  our  way  into  the  heart  of  the 
city.  ;  Our  journey,  however,  was  not  unattended 
with  interruptions.  At  one  place  we  were  seized 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        3i7 

by  a  crowd,  and  dragged  good-naturedly  forward 
to  a  puppet  show,  the  performances  of  which  were 
progressing  at  the  top  of  a  screen,  by  the  street 
side,  in  all  the  stateliness  of  Punch  and  Judy,  with 
as  much  additional  tact  and  humor  as  Italian  inge- 
nuity could  invent.  For  this  treat,  not  one  word 
of  which  we  understood,  we  were  requested  to  pay 
two  coppers  each. 

On  leaving  this  establishment  we  were  met  by  a 
gang  of  rival  showmen,  who  had  beheld  with  envy 
our  patronage  to  the  puppets.  They  instantly 
seized  upon  us,  and  forced  us  forward  to  a  small 
tent,  in  which  was  exhibiting,  at  a  penny  apiece, 
the  time-honored  Virgin  and  the  child  Jesus.  The 
back  ground  of  the  show  was  filled  with  miniature 
saints,  who  were  grouped  together  in  infantile  inno- 
cence. The  revenues  of  this  dignified  establish-' 
lishment  were  collected  by  a  priest,  who,  from  head 
to  foot,  was  shrouded  in  a  white  robe,  the  only 
openings  of  which  were  too  small  holes  beneath  the 
forehead,  through  which  peered  a  pair  of  piercing 
black  eyes.  After  each  of  us  had  slipped  two  cop- 
pers into  the  box  of  this  holy  representative  of  the 
most  holy  see,  we  were  permitted  to  take  our  de- 
parture in  peace. 

The  first  two  hours  of  our  shore  adventures 
satisfied  me  that  the  citizens  were  every  where  dis- 
posed to  take  advantage  of  our  ignorance  of  their 
language,  and  that  every  scheme  was  resorted  to 
among  them  to  swindle  us  out  of  our  money. 


348        FIVE  YEARS  BEJOUE  THE  MAST. 

These  things  made  us  feel  the  want  of  an  inter- 
preter, but  there  appeared  some  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining one.  Overhearing  some  Swiss  soldiers 
talking  together  on  the  pavement,  I  ventured  to 
address  them  in  German,  upon  which  they  touched 
their  hats  very  politely ;  and  on  finding  that  we 
were  Americans,  became  quite  friendly,  and 
offered  to  aid  us  in  procuring  an  English  inter 
preter. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  our  new  friends, 
we  were  led  a  few  squares  down  a  narrow  street, 
and  conducted  into  a  large  drinking-saloon,  where 
stood  four  or  five  tables,  surrounded  by  about  forty 
soldiers  dressed  in  the  same  uniform  as  those  of 
our  escort.  On  being  introduced  to  the  party  as 
American  sailors,  an  additional  half  dozen  bottles 
of  wine  were  called  for,  and  on  being  placed  before 
us  by  the  female  servants  in  attendance,  the  whole 
party  toasted  us  and  our  country  with  a  cheer, 
such  as  we  had  been  accustomed  to  use  on  board 
the  Fairfield,  as  the  shout  of  a  sham  victory. 

A  general  conversation  now  sprung  up  among 
them,  in  respect  to  America.  One  had  a  brother 
living  in  New  York,  another  a  sister  in  St.  Louis, 
a  third  two  cousins  in  Baltimore ;  and,  in  truth,  aa 
the  discourse  flew  from  mouth  to  mouth,  there  was 
scarcely  an  individual  among  them  but  had  friends 
or  relatives  distributed  in  some  portion  of  the  new 
world.  All  were  determined,  at  one  day,  to  tread 
the  soil  of  America.  Many  had  already  prepared 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        349 

ducat  upon  ducat  for  that  purpose  ;  and  all  hoped 
to  pocket,  from  the  fingers  of  Ferdinand  and  those 
of  his  powerless  subjects,  the  golden  crutch  that 
was  to  sustain  their  journey  to  the  distant  prairies 
of  the  western  world.  An  hundred  questions,  in 
respect  to  subjects  connected  with  my  own  country, 
were  propounded  by  the  different  speakers,  all  of 
which  I  answered  as  briefly  and  satisfactorily  as 
possible.  At  last  one  of  the  company  threw  up  his 
hat,  and  commenced  singing  an  emigrant  song,  in 
which  all  the  rest  joined  in  chorus ;  and  when  it 
was  finally  concluded,  with  quite  a  touching  pathos, 
they  all  clapped  their  hands,  and  seizing  their 
glasses,  drank  success  to  America,  with  an  appetite 
that  threatened  to  engulf  every  idea  of  the  conti- 
nent they  were  toasting. 

At  this  moment,  the  soldier  who  had  volunteered 
to  procure  an  interpreter  entered  the  apartment, 
in  company  with  an  elderly  man  of  slender  frame, 
who,  he  thought,  might  answer  my  purpose — but 
whose  honesty,  he  observed,  would  not  be  any  the 
worse  of  a  little  watching. 

After  an  interchange  of  a  few  words  with  the 
interpreter,  I  prepared  to  take  my  leave.  The 
soldiers,  finding  me  decided  against  passing  the 
day  with  them,  crowded  round  me  on  every  side, 
shaking  my  hands,  and  eliciting  from  me  a  promise 
to  visit  them  again  on  the  fullowing  day,  before  my 
departure  to  the  ship.  My  messmates,  whom  the 
discharges  of  the  wine  bottles  had  imbued  with 
30 


350        FIVE  YEAKO  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

quite  a  martial  spirit,  determined  to  sustain  to  the 
last  the  posts  allotted  to  them  by  their  Swiss  allies ; 
and  blow  high,  blow  low,  swore  they  would  never 
desert  the  cantonment,  while  there  remained  a  shot 
in  the 'locker  or  an  unconquered  wine  bottle  in  the 
port.  With  this  understanding,  myself  and  two 
of  my  more  orderly  companions,  left  the  assembly, 
and  started  in  search  of  adventures  more  congenial 
to  our  tastes. 

"  Where  do  you  want  to  go  ?"  inquired  the  inter- 
preter, in  good  English,  as  soon  as  we  had  gained 
the  street. 

"  Wherever  there  is  any  thing  to  be  seen,"  re- 
plied I. 

"  To  be  seen  !"  echoed  he,  laughing.  "Are  we 
not  in  Naples  ?  Is  not  the  fashionable  toyshop  of 
all  Italy  before  you  ?" 

"  True,"  observed  I,  "  we  are  in  Naples,  and  a 
dark  enough  hole  this  portion  of  it  is,  too.  Why 
do  they  make  their  streets  so  narrow  ?  Does  the 
sun  ever  shine  in  here  ?"  added  I,  glancing  upward. 
'*  How  high  are  these  houses  ?  One,  two,  three, 
three  and  three  are  six,  six  and  three — nine  storiea 
.and  a  basement!  We  have  nothing  in  America 
quite  so  heavenly  as  that !" 

Before  I  had  withdrawn  my  looks  from  aloft,  my 
foot  was  tripped,  and  down  I  went  among  a  pile 
of  beggars  who  had  stretched  themselves  on  the 
pavement  to  solicit  alms.  Before  I  could  regain 
my  feet,  my  purse,  which  was  suspended  by  a  string 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        351 

round  my  neck,  slipped  accidentally  from  the 
bosom  of  my  frock.  It  was  instantly  clutched  by 
one  of  the  prostrate  beggars,  who,  breaking  the 
string,  whipped  it  under  his  tattered  clothes.  As 
quick  as  lightning  I  grasped  the  villain  by  the 
throat,  and  slinging  him  into  the  street,  held  him 
there,  demanding  my  money.  His  comrades  set 
up  a  howl  of  distress,  and  attempted  to  aid  him ; 
but  I  kept  them  off  by  kicks  and  menaces,  until 
two  Swiss  soldiers  were  attracted  to  the  spot,  who, 
on-  being  informed  of  the  robbery,  proceeded  to 
search  the  scoundrel.  He  fell  on  his  knees,  de- 
claring his  innocence  of  the  theft ;  but  the  soldiers, 
without  paying  the  least  regard  to  his  whining  pro- 
testations, divested  him  of  the  filthy  rags  that  served 
as  his  clothing,  and  soon  found  the  purse  concealed 
in  a  sack  next  his  person.  When  the  purse  was 
restored,  he  became  very  penitent,  and  while  re- 
clothing  himself  under  the  kicks  of  the  soldiers, 
begged  of  me,  in  tears,  for  God's  sake  to  let  him 
have  a  little  money  to  keep  him  from  perishing  of 
hunger.  I  offered  the  soldiers  money,  in  recom- 
pense for  their  timely  aid,  but  they  refused  all  com- 
pensation ;  and  taking  their  walk  in  the  direction  _ 
of  the  house  we  had  just  quitted,  left  us  to  the 
renewal  of  our  adventures. 

"You  were  lucky  in  getting  your  purse,  again," 
said  our  guide,  as  we  resumed  our  walk.  "  It  is 
a  wonder  he  did  not  slip  it  into  the  hands »of  one 
of  his  companions." 


352       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  I  was  too  quick  for  him,  or  doubtless  he  would," 
replied  I.  "  My  eye  was  fixed  on  both  his  hands, 
all  the  time  I- had  hold  of  him.  I  was  determined 
it  should  not  pass  from  him  without  my  knowledge  ; 
but  here's  that  bustling  street  again.  Are  there 
no  places  of  amusement,  we  might  visit,  without 
encountering  such  an  interminable  crowd  ? 

"  Yes ;  we  might  go  to  the  grotto,  or  to  the 
king's  gardens." 

"  How  far  are  they  off?" 

"  The  former  about  a  mile,  and  the  latter,  near 
two  miles." 

"  Rather  too  long  a  cruise,  to  go  on  foot,"  ob- 
served one  of  my  companions. 

"Yes,  too  far  for  me,  at  all  events,"  said  I: 
"  for  I  feel  half  tired  to  death  with  fighting  that  old 
beggar." 

"  Let  us  take  a  coach,  and  ride  out  to  Mount 
Vesuvius,"  said  another  of  our  party,  whose  name 
was  Stephens. 

"  Agreed,"  said  I.  "  Mr. what  name  are  we 

to  know  you  by  ?"  inquired  I,  turning  to  our  inter- 
preter. 

"  Anything-you  please,"  answered  he,  laughing. 
"  You  may  call  me  John  Bull,  for  want  of  a  better 
name,  for  I  am  an  Englishman  at  any  rate." 

"Well  then,  Mr.  John  Bull,"  observed  Stephens, 
"as  you  and  Jonathan  are  to'have  a  day's  cruise 
together,  top  your  boom,  and  hunt  us  a  coach,  in 
double-quick  time,  and  let  us  take  a  beat  to  old 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        353 

Vesuvius.     And,  harkec,  sir,  mind  and  bring  one 
of  the  right  stripe." 

The  guide  instantly  darted  away  in  search  of  a 
coach,  while  myself,  and  companions,  took  our  walk 
in  the  direction  of  the  square,  designated  as  the 
place  to  meet  the  coach. 

While  awaiting  the  return  of  the  guide,  our 
attention  was  arrested  by  a  commotion  up  the  street, 
and  on"  mounting  the  steps  of  the  houses,  so  as  to 
overlook  the  heads  of  the  multitude,  we  descried 
two  of  our  shipmates,  who  had  parted  company  with 
us  early  in  the  day,  thundering  down  into  the 
square,  mounted  on  jackasses,  and  followed  by  some 
fifty  of  the  lazzaroni,  shouting  and  laughing,  with 
the  most  exquisite  delight.  The  people  scampered 
in  every  direction  from  the  street,  as  they  ap- 
proached ;  and  the  riders  perceiving  us  watching 
their  movements,  commenced  playing  their  whips 
with  an  activity  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a 
boatswain's-mate,  while  the  high-mettled  animals 
darted  ahead  with  a  speed  that  outstripped  the  feet 
of  the  nimble  mob  following  in  their  rear. 

"Hurrah  for"  Mount  Vesuvius!''  shouted  the 
foremost  sailor,  waving  his  hand,  and  kicking  his 
heels  into  the  flanks  of  his  animal,  as  he  passed  in 
front  of  us. 

"  Hurrah  for  old  Parkhill,  and  his  brother  jack- 
ass !"  answered  Stephens,  slinging  his  hat  at  the 
head  of  the  beast. 

The  ass,  frightened  at  the  hat,  shyed  off  with  a 
30* 


354        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

bound ;  and  Parkhill,  losing  his  equilibrium,  shot 
from  his  saddle,  and  turned  a  summerset  in  the 
direction  of  an  old  woman,  who  was  roasting  horse- 
chestnuts  over  a  hand-furnace,  by  the  street  side. 
The  heels  of  the  unassed  sailor  striking  on  the 
edge  of  her  frying  pan,  sent  it  singing,  like  a  tam- 
bourine, into  the  middle  of  the  street,  while  the 
chestnuts  rattled  round,  in  every  direction,  like 
hailstones  in  a  tempest. 

"  Are  you  hurt,  Parkhill  ?"  exclaimed  Stephens, 
running  to  the  assistance  of  his  fallen  shipmate,  who 
clung  with  both  hands  to  the  curbstone. 

"Hurt,  the  devil !-  Never  mind  me,  but  stop  the 
headway  of  the  jackass.  Clew  up  his  sails,  and  let 
go  his  anchor,  or  he'll  be  harder  aground  nor  I 
am,  in  less  than  two  minutes." 

The  ass  was  soon  restored  by  a  bystander,  who 
pocketed  a  rich  reward  for  his  labor ;  while  Park- 
hill's  companion,  who  had  witnessed  the  accident, 
in  the  meantime  rounded  too,  and  now  riding  up, 
aided  his  friend  in  re-mounting,  upon  which  the 
two  rode  off  more  moderately,  followed  by  the  lam- 
entations of  the  old  woman,  who 'raised  a  despair- 
ing cry  over  the  loss  of  her  chestnuts. 

"  Shut  your  mouth,  you  old  catamount !"  cried 
Stephens.  "  I  would'nt  raise  such  a  scream,  for  a 
cart  load  of  chestnuts.  How  much  are  they  worth  ? 
I  kicked  up  the  muss,  and  I  can  pay  for  them." 

"Give  her  a  few  coppers,'*  interposed  an  En- 
glish gentleman,  who  had  been  attracted  to  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       355 

spot  by  the  novelty  our  presence  created.  "  You 
can  buy  a  bushel  of  these  in  the  market  for  a  mere 
trifle." 

Stephens  gave  the  old  crone  -a  sixpence,  on  which 
she  instantly  dried  her  tears,  and  clasping  her 
hands  in  thankfulness,  began  pouring  upon  him  her 
blessings,  in  a  tone  almost  as  shrill  as  her  former 
cries  of  sorrow. 

Our  guide  now  appearing  with  a  coach,  the  driver 
drew  up  at  the  side  of  the  street,  and  cracking  his 
whip,  motioned  for  us  to  get  into  it,  but  Stephens 
who  was  out  for  a  "bust,"  refused  to  mount  one 
step  of  the  "  Jacob' s-ladder"  until  furnished  with  a 
bottle  of  liquor.  The  desired  luxury  was  soon  pro- 
cured from  a  neighboring  house,  upon  which  we  all 
mounted  into  the  coach,  and  rolled  off  in  pursuit  of 
our  equestrian  shipmates. 

Though  the  road  round  the  circuit  of  the  bay, 
was  as  beautiful  as  fancy  can  conceive,  our  pro- 
gress was  not  very  rapid;  for  there  were  objects  of 
interest,  at  many  points,  which  it  required  pauses 
to  inspect,  and  once  John  Bull  and  I  dismounted, 
to  examine  the  wreck  of  the  English  brig  that  had 
been  cast  upon  the  shore  during  the  recent  storms. 
More  than  an  hour  had  elapsed  by  the  time  of  our 
arrival  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  both  ruy 
companions,  had  become  so  drunk  from  the  contents 
of  the  bottle,  that  neither  of  them  could  have  ac- 
complished the  ascent,  had  they  undertaken  it.  A  t 
the  suggestion  of  the  guide,  who  thought  the  day 


356       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

too  far  advanced  for  a  journey  to  the  summit,  the 
project  was  abandoned,  and  our  party  joined  in 
company  with  Parkhill  and  his  friend,  who  had 
located  themselves  in  front  of  a  pretty  cottage,  oc- 
cupied by  a  merry  little  Italian  woman,  and  near 
which  stood  a  wine  press.  The  luscious  liquid  of 
the  Vesuvian  grape  was  ordered  forth  by  the  quart, 
and  the  whole  party  walked  into  it  with  an  appe- 
tite that  showed  them  no  novices  in  the  favorite 
devotions  of  the  merry  god;  while  the  repeated 
praises  bestowed  on  each  mug  by  the  amiable  land- 
lady, told  loudly  in  favor  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  she  held  the  merits  of  her  wine.  After  an 
hour  of  noise  and  revelry,  during  which  the  lan- 
guage of  both  our  guide  and  coachman  began  to 
betray  symptoms  of  the  deleterious  effects  of  our 
Vesuvian  visit,  it  was  finally  proposed  that  we  should 
return  to  Naples.  The  proposition  meeting  with 
the  unanimous  accord  of  the  whole  party,  the  asses 
and  coach  were  again  brought  forth,  and  such  as 
were  too  drunk  to  mount  without  help,  being  aided 
into  the  coach,  the  whole  cavalcade  retraced  its  way 
to  the  city,  amid  the  shouts  and  hurrahs  of  its  own 
members. 

On  the  dismissal  of  the  coach,  the  movable  poi- 
tion  of  our  party  had  become  reduced  to  the  guide 
and  myself,  who  after  seeing  our  companions  housed 
for  the  night,  and  partaking  a  lunch  of  maca- 
roni and  cheese,  repaired  to  the  theatre.  The 
play  was  a  comedy,  and  though  the  language  was 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.-        357 

wholly  unintelligible  to  me,  the  groupings  were  at 
times  so  ludicrous  that  I  laughed  heartily  with  the 
rest.  I  saw  nothing  in  the  decorations  of  the 
house,  or  the  stage,  that  excelled  in  taste  or  ele- 
gance, what  I  had  been  accustomed  to  witness  in 
like  establishments  in  our  own  country  ;  and  as  to 
the  arrangements  for  the  accommodation  of  an 
audience,  I  deemed  them  less  creditable  than  those 
of  an  American  travelling  circus,  for  no  one  could 
obtain  a  seat  more  comfortable  than  a  solid  plank 
without  paying  the  additional  value  of  a  dime  for  a 
portable  cushion. 

The  play  over,  I  was  provided  with  lodgings  by 
the  guide,  who  passed  the  night  in  the  same  "cham- 
ber with  me,  the  bills  for  both  amounting  to  the 
moderate  sum  of  twelve-and-a-half  cents.  In  the 
morning  I  was  astir  at  an  early  hour,  and  leaving 
my  English  friend  still  in  the  misty  land  of  dreams, 
sought  my  way  to  the  Swiss  hotel,  where  I  found 
most  of  my  shipmates,  and  where  I  partook  of  a 
good  breakfast  of  fish,  ham,  and  sausages,  together 
with  some  of  the  best  cheese  that  ever  emanated 
from  the  Alpine  regions  of  Switzerland. 

After  a  mutual  interchange  of  toasts,  and  good 
wishes,  with  the  jolly  Switzers,  I  again  sallied 
abroad  into  the  city,  accompanied  by  Stephens, 
who  had  recovered  sufficiently  from  his  previous 
day's  carousal,  to  renew  his  rambles.  At  the 
first  angle  of  the  street  we  encountered  our 
English  guide,  who  again  joined  us,  and  we  three 


858        -FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

together,  wended  our  way  to  the  southern  part  of 
the  city. 

The  area  of  Naples  extends  near  a  league  along 
a  pleasant  hill,  rising  to  an  elevation  of  some  two 
or  three  hundred  feet.  The  most  populous  and 
active  portion  of  the  city  stretches  along  its  eastern 
acclivity.  Towards  the  summit,  the  houses,  though 
less  crowded,  are  more  elegant ;  and  the  whole 
hill,  along  its  entire  top,  presents  a  noble  view  of 
beautiful  'villas,  palaces,  and  public  edifices,  par- 
tially displaying  their  sumptuous  architecture  from 
amid  shady  groves  and  creeping  vines.  The  west- 
ern side  declines  gradually  away  into  a  delightful 
vale,  which  is  washed  along  its  southern  margin  by 
an  estuary  of  the  Mediterranean.  Along  the 
boundaries  of  this  vale,  are  located  the  royal  gar- 
dens, filling  the  air  with  their  rich  perfumes,  and 
inviting  the  passing  traveller  to  linger  among 
groves  and  bowers,  more  beautiful  than  ever  graced 
the  homes  of  the  fabled  naiades.  The  city  here 
has  less  pomp,  less  show,  less  glitter,  than  on  the 
opposite  side  ;  but  the  comparative  quiet  and  close 
proximity  to  the  country,  as  well  as  the  silvan 
scenery  of  a  beach,  along  which  is  scarcely  heard 
a  ripple  of  the  sea,  makes  it  a  happy  and  desira- 
ble retreat  to  persons  of  retiring  and  contempla- 
tive minds.  The  two  portions  of  the  city  are 
connected  by  a  tunnel  through  the.  hill.  This 
excavation  is,  however,  only  known  as  the  "grotto," 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       359 

and  it  was  to  this  grotto  that  myself  and  compan- 
ions now  directed  our  way. 

Early  as  was  the  hour,  we  found  many  stalls 
erected  at  the  entrance  of  the  grotto,  teeming  with 
fruits  and  refreshments  of  every  description,  and 
so  crowded  with  beggars  that  it  was  imposible  for  a 
sailor  to  drink  a  glass  of  mulled  wine  without  hav- 
ing it  clutched  from  his  lips  by  two  or  three  mis- 
creants who  deemed  it  an  act  of  ill-manners,  to 
demand  less  than  one-half  of  every  thing  he  pur- 
chased. Finding  the  grotto  filled  at  every  point 
with  these  beggarly  obstructions,  we  passed  through 
to  the  opposite  extremity,  and  soon  came  within 
view  of  the  royal  gardens.  I  felt  desirous  of 
entering  the  enclosures,  but  was  told  by  the  guide 
that  it  was  first  necessary  to  have  a  written  pass 
from  the  captain  of  the  police.  I,  however,  ap- 
proached the  soldier  who  was  guarding  the  entrance 
and  inquired  in  German,  what  formalities  were 
requisite  to  obtain  admittance.  He  started  in 
surprise,  and  asked  what  countryman  I  was.  On 
being  told  that  I  was  an  American,  he  smiled,  and 
motioning  with  his  hand  to  the  gate,  told  us  to  go 
in,  but  to  be  careful  and  not  trespass  on  the  sta- 
tues or  the  grass.  John  Bull  was  more  surprised 
at  my  success  in  gaining  admittance,  than  the  sen- 
try had  been  at  my  knowledge  of  the  German 
language,  a^ad  swore  that  no  Neapolitan  could  have 
met  with  a  similar  mark  of  confidence  from  a 
Swiss  soldier. 


360        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

On  entering  the  gardens,  my  companions  and 
myself  separated,  they  going  to  the  right  hand  and 
I  to  the  left.  It  vras  yet  too  early  in  the  day  for 
city  visitors,  and  I  pursued  my  solitary  ramble 
through  one  of  the  most  delightful  places  in  the 
world,  uninterrupted  by  the  presence  of  aught 
living  save  the  feathered  songsters  that  glided  from 
tree  to  tree.  After  feasting  my  mind  for  two 
hours,  on  every  fanciful  idea  that  could  be  awa- 
kened by  the  most  refined  sculpture,  the  most 
nparkling  fountains,  and  dreamy  bowers,  I  thought 
of  returning  to  the  city,  and  began  to  look  around 
for  my  company.  Both  had  fallen  asleep  under 
the  shade  of  a  spreading  vine,  and  rousing  them 
up  I  began  to  upbraid  them  for  their  dullness  in 
artistical  taste.  But  Stephens  thought  that  artis- 
tical  taste  had  less  of  nater  in  it  than  a  taste  of 
good  brandy,  and  swore  that  there  was  a  darned 
sight  more  fun  in  "  cuttin  double  shindies"  with  the 
Dutch  girls  at  the  Swiss  hotel,  than  in  "loafing" 
among  a  parcel  of  naked  men  and  women,  made 
of  marble,  and  scattered  through  a  "  bush."  As 
he  was  now  up  for  an  instant  return  to  the  canton- 
ment, we  all  three  left  the  gardens  at  once,  and 
retraced  our  way  through  the  grotto. 

On  our  re-appearance  in  the  city,  Stephens, 
whose  passion  for  the  wine  cup  and  the  Swiss  girls 
superseded  all  ether  amusements,  directed  his  way 
to  the  hotel  where  he  had  passed  the  night,  while 
my  English  friend  and  I  proceeded  into  the  neigh 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       361 

borhood  of  the  palace,  and  took  a  turn  in  the  semi- 
circular colonnades  of  the  adjoining  chapel.  The 
palace  of  the  king,  though  large,  is  a  plain  brick 
edifice,  and  not  very  attractive  in  its  external 
appearance,  but  is  set  off  with  happy  effect  by 
the  open  square  in  its  front.  The  colonnades  of 
the  chapel  project  forward  in  two  arms,  as  if  to 
embrace  the  palace,  while  the  intermediate  space 
between  the  arms  is  adorned  with  two  equestrian 
statues  of  marble,  mounted  on  pedestals  some  eight 
feet  from  the  ground. 

The  palace  of  the  prime  minister  of  the  two 
Sicilies,  a  short  distance  from  that  of  the  sovereign, 
is  a  beautiful  edifice.  It  is  built  of  white  marble, 
on  the  hill  side,  and  is  partially  divided  by  a  long 
vestibule  or  arched  court,  which  is  ascended  by 
flights  of  steps  at  intervals  of  nearly  thirty  feet. 
The  niches  along  the  sides  of  the  court,  are  filled 
with  sculptured  designs  of  the  most  eminent  artists, 
representing  the  famed  heroes  of  ancient  song,  whc 
with  solemn  look  and  thoughtful  brow,  seem  con- 
templating the  present  oppression  and  gloom  of 
their  once  free  and  happy  Italy. 

Leaving  this  gorgeous  structure,  I  was  next  led 
to  a  church  said  to  have  been  visited  occasionally 
by  Bonaparte  during  his  sojourn  at  Naples,  and 
hence  called  the  "  Church  of  Napoleon."  Much 
as  I  had  before  seen  of  Catholic  ostentation  in  the 
extravagant  decoration  of  churches,  the  greatest 

stretch  of  my  imagination  had  never  conceived  a 
31 


362        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

parallel  of  the  magnificence  and  profusion  here 
displayed.  The  whole  interior  of  the  building, 
from  the  mouldings  of  the  dome  to  the  nethermost 
extremity  of  the  walls,  was  literally  in  a  blaze  of 
gold.  The  altar,  the  images,  and  the  organs, 
sparkled  with  precious  gems,  while  the  pillars  vied 
with  each  other  in  the  splendor  of  their  deco- 
rations ;  and  even  the  statues  of  the  holy  saints 
adorning  the  niches,  and  whose  prototypes  had 
passed  their  days  in  wealthless  humility,  were 
peeping  out  upon  the  golden  scene  before  them, 
from  beneath  coronets  of  the  most  exquisite  and 
costly  workmanship. 

Such  sanctified  magnificence  is  doubtless  ex- 
tremely gratifying  to  the  taste  of  a  true  Catholic, 
who  sees  in  it  nothing  more  than  man's  munificent 
love  to  his  Creator ;  and  that  such  outward  trap- 
pings of  wealth  and  grandeur  impress  the  ignorant 
multitude  with  a  high  sense  of  the  sublime  in 
Christianity,  is  altogether  indisputable.  But  to 
the  philanthropic  mind,  who  would  weigh  the  bless- 
ings of  the  Supreme  will  in  scales  of  happiness  to 
all  his  creatures,  these  things  become  objects  of 
sincere  regret.  It  is  impossible  fo^a  man  accus- 
tomed to  a  land  of  plenty,  where  beggary  is  almost 
unknown,  to  look  upon  the  starving  thousands  of 
Naples,  and  not  regret  the  sacrifice  of  so  much 
wealth  for  mere  external  religious  show — to  witness 
the  ignorance  and  degradation  of  the  mass  of  her 
citizens,  and  not  wish  a  portion  of  this  wealth 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        363 

diverted  into  channels  for  their  moral  elevation. 
How  much  wretchedness  and  misery  might  not  be 
obviated  by  a  proper  application  of  the  sums  of 
money  expended  in  the  decorations  of  this  single 
church !  How  many  darkened  minds,  that  are 
now  treading  the  downward  way  to  crime  and 
desolation,  might  not  be  enlightened  to  virtue  and 
science,  by  a  direction  of  one-half  of  the  munifi- 
cent funds  of  the  church  to  the  establishment  of 
public  schools  !  But  monarchy  and  popery  direct 
it  otherwise ;  and  while  each  might  acquire  an 
enviable  renown  in  governing  a  nation  of  intelli- 
gent freemen,  they  sacrifice  their  own  peace  of 
mind  and  the  happiness  of  their  subjects,  in  endea- 
voring to  sustain  the  empty  trappings  of  a  throne. 
But  time  and  human  progress  will  rectify  their 
blunders.  Their  reigns,  instead  of  yielding  men, 
have  produced  cannibals,  whose  stomachs  thirst  for 
the  blood  of  the  oppressors — the  steel  of  the  tyrant 
is  sharpening  the  teeth  that  will  eventually  rend 
him  from  his  throne,  and  feast  a  long  night  of 
revelry  on  the  untombed  flesh  of  his  ermined 
carcase. 

On  quitting  the  church  I  settled  with  my  guide, 
to  whom  I  paid  a  dollar  for  his  services ;  and  as  it 
was  drawing  near  the  time  of  day  at  which  my 
presence  would  be  anticipated  on  board  the  ship, 
JL  thought  it  best  to  return  home.  My  English 
friend  accompanied  me  to  the  landing,  where 
several  of  my  messmates  ha^  already  preceded  me, 


364       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

and  where  I  soon  took  my  seat  in  one  of  the  Fair- 
field's  boats,  bidding  farewell  to  my  friend  and  to 
Naples.  Thus  ended  my  brief  visit  to  that  famous 
city,  which  the  natives  often  designate  as  a  "  part 
of  heaven  fallen  upon  earth  ;"  but  which,  notwith- 
standing the  extravagant  figure,  has  as  much  of 
the  nether  elements  in  its  composition,  as  any 
known  spot  of  like  extent  on  the  globe. 

Our  Neapolitan  visit  was  not  one  of  the  most 
favorable  kind  to  the  Fairfield,  inasmuch  as  she  was 
compelled  to  leave  the  port  with  two  hands  less  in 
the  number  of  her  crew  than  she  had  entered  it. 
Those  two  Englishmen  who  had  shown  a  hanker- 
ing after  the  Rodney  at  Gibraltar,  and  T\ho  were 
both  members  of  my  mess,  had  forgotten  to  return 
to  the  ship ;  and  though  diligent  search  was  made 
for  them  about  the  city,  they  managed  to  keep 
themselves  invisible.  Mr.  Boyle,  however,  said  he 
was  glad  they  were  gone — that  the  old  Fairfield 
needed  some  purging  of  her  rotten  timbers — that 
he  would  not  give  a  "  tinker's  compliment"  for  a 
sailor  in  the  American  service,  who  would  barter 
the  glorious  banner  of  the  "stripes  and  stars"  for 
the  royal  cross  of  St.  George. 

Having  gratified  his  own  curiosity,  and  that  of 
his  subordinate  officers,  with  a  view  of  the  wonders 
of  Naples,  the  commodore  ordered, the  squadron 
again  to  sea,  and  retraced  its  way  to  Port 
Mahon. 

The  only  striking  incident  on  boar*!  our  ship,' 


FIVE  YEATIP  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        3G5 

during  this  voyage,  was  the  imprisonment  of  the 
boatswain.  Mr.  Edgar,  as  the  reader  is  already 
aware,  was  remarkably  fond  of  grog.  At  Naples 
he  had  indulged  his  appetite  to  such  excess,  that 
he  was,  at  times,  incapable  of  attending  to  his 
duties ;  and  on  quitting  the  port,  had  furnished 
himself  with  a  supply  of  liquor  to  last  him  some 
weeks.  His  intemperate  behavior  in  the  steerage 
had  produced  an  altercation  between  himself  and 
his  messmates,  during  which  he  made  an  assault 
upon  the  gunner.  His  disorderly  conduct  was 
immediately  reported  to  the  captain,  who  ordered 
him  to  be  placed  under  arrest,  and  kept  in  irons 
until  our  arrival  in  port.  At  the  end  of  our  voyage, 
his  case  was  referred  to  the  commander-in-chief, 
who  suspended  him  from  his  office,  and  ordered 
him  to  be  sent  home  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 

However  settled  my  hate,  for  the  ill-treatment  I 
had  suffered  at  the  hands  of  this  unfortunate  wretch, 
I  had  now  my  revenge.  Though  in  the  receipt  of 
forty  dollars  per  month,  his  wages  had  been  so 
methodically  exhausted,  that  he  was  not  in  posses- 
sion of  sufficient  money  to  defray  his  expenses 
home.  To  meet  this  deficiency,  he  threw  himself 
on  the  charity  of  the  ship's  company ;  and  now  it 
was  that  he  first  discovered  the  exact  estimation  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  men.  Many  openly 
derided  his  claims  on  their  benevolence,  and  not  a 
few  met  his  solicitations  with  a  hearty  curse.  Some 
few,  however,  did  subscribe  a  dollar  each,  by  which 

31* 


366         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

he  was  saved  from  absolute  destitution.  On  pre- 
senting his  paper  to  me,  he  turned  his  face  aside. 
After  looking  it  over,  I  handed  it  back,  asking  if 
he  remembered  the  flogging  he  got  me  in  the  old 
Columbus.  He  took  back  his  paper  with  a  bitter 
look,  and  walked  away  without  making  any  reply. 


.    Adventures  at  Port  Mahon. 

ON  our  appearance  at  Port  Mahon,  there  was  a 
second  jubilee  among  the  ladies,  who  visited  the 
squadron  by  scores,  and  met  poor  Jack  with  such 
happy  greetings,  as  made  all  hands  think  themselves 
once  more  at  home.  The  time  was  also  a  propitious 
one  for  the  men.  There  was  a  prospect  ahead  for 
a  few  months  of  fun  and  amusement.  The  Bran- 
dywine,  and  Preble,  were  already  warping  into 
winter  quarters,  while  the  Eairfield,  presented  that 
neat  and  tidy  appearance,  which  in  every  ship  of 
war,  betokens  an  opportunity  of  relaxation  and  ease 
to  the  hardy  sailor. 

A  few  days  after  our  return,  the  captain  gave 
leave  of  absence  to  a  portion  of  the  crew;  and 
though  some  of  my  messmates  had  barely  recovered 
from  the  effects  of  their  Neapolitan  spree,  we  had 
the  luck  of  being  numbered  among  this  party. 
Stephens,  who  had  become  my  most  intimate  asso- 
ciate, was  in  ecstacies  at  the  prospect  of  another 
cruise  on  shore,  while  Parkhill,  who  was  always  out 
for  equestrian  exercises,  began  to  talk  of  martin- 
gales, and  bridles,  as  if  his  whole  life  had  been 

(367) 


368         FIVE  YEAHS  Error. E  THE  ?\r.\ST. 

passed  from  under  the  bowsprit,  or  astride  the  flemish 
horse.  To  me,  the  circumstance  of  going  on  shore 
at  Port  Mahon,  possessed  a  greater  charm  than  at 
Naples,  from  the  simple  fact,  that  here  I  could 
make  myself  understood  by  the  natives,  which  was 
far  from  being  the  case  in  the  more  superb  metro- 
polis of  Italy. 

On  being  landed  on  shore,  the  first  object  of  our 
search,  as  a  matter  of  course,  was  a  grog-shop.  This 
we  found  before  we  had  penetrated  a  square  into  the 
town  ;  and  charging  ourselves  with  a  sufficient  quan- 
tity of  ardent  spirits,  to  arouse  the  more  refined  spirit 
of  adventure,  questions  were  started  among  the  com- 
pany, as  to  what  amusements  were  to  constitute  the 
order  of  the  day.  One  thought  the  most  delightful 
thing  we  could  undertake,  was,  to  kick  up  a  row  with 
the  police,  and  fight  the  soldiers,  while  a  second,  sug- 
gested the  idea  of  getting  up  a  fandango.  A  third 
was  in  favor  of  a  jackass  expedition  to  Georgetown, 
getting  drunk  on  the  road,  and  returning  home  the 
best  way  we  could.  The  last  proposition  appeared 
to  meet  the  approbation  of  Parkhill  and  Stephens, 
the  former  of  whom  received  the  suggestion  with  a 
cheer.  Indeed,  the  adventure  seemed  to  embody 
so  much  of  the  ludicrous,  that  I  was  disposed  to 
join  in  it,  and  after  soAe  persuasion  on  the  part 
of  Parkhill,  finally  consented  to  become  one  of  the 
party.  The  expedition  matured,  about  a  dozen  of 
us  repaired  to  a  livery  stable,  where,  in  less  than 
an  hour,  we  were  mounted  on  as  many  animals, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        869 

and  thundered  off,  down  the  streets  of  the  town, 
with  the  fleetness  of  a  company  of  cavalry  in  pur- 
suit of  a  flying  foe.  Twice  we  dismounted  to  drench 
our  throats  hefore  we  had  traversed  the  extent  of 
the  city,  and  even  after  we  had  passed  beyond  its 
limits,  we  hailed  the  country  people,  proceeding 
with  their  wines  to  the  market,  and  levied  contri- 
butions on  their  respective  demijohns. 

Arriving  at  Georgetown,  we  secured  our  beasts 
wherever  a  peg  could  be  found  large  enough  to  hold 
one,  and  bounding  into  the  first  hotel,  which  was 
half  filled  with  soldiers,  called  for  half  a  dozen  bot- 
tles of  wine.  The  soldiers,  soon  retiring  from  the 
apartment,  left  our  party  to  themselves,  upon  which 
most  of  them  entered  into  the  affections  of  the 
wine  with  a  determination  that  threatened  to  sweep 
everything  into  oblivion.  After  half  an  hour  of 
riotous  drinking,  Stephens  drew  me  aside  and  told 
ne  that  it  was  a  settled  scheme  among  the  party 
to  get  me  drunk  ;  and  that  I  must  keep  an  eye  to 
my  glass,  as  the  rest  were  adding  spirits  to  my  wine. 
I  thanked  him  for  the  hint,  and  as  I  had  already 
some  queer  sensations  about  the  head  I  soon  managed 
to  give  the  company  the  slip,  and  retreating  to  a  pri- 
vate nook  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  stretched  myself 
on  a  bench,  with  my  head  reclining  against  a  wash- 
tub,  containing  some  four  or  five  gallons  of  water. 

Now  whether  it  was  the  liquor  of  which  I  had 
been  drinking  so  liberally  that  produced  drowsi- 
ness, or  whether  my  nerves  had  been  overcome  from 


370        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

the  loss  of  sleep  during  the  preceding  night,  I  know 
not,  but  from  some  cause  or  other,  I  immediately 
sunk  into  a  sound  sleep,  in  which  my  fancy  "was 
troubled  with  wild  visions  of  storms,  and  shipwrecks 
of  the  sea. 

I  fancied  myself  on  a  second  voyage  to  Naples. 
The  capes  of  the  bay  had  already  been  weathered, 
•when  the  wind,  which  for  several  days  had  been 
blowing  from  the  south,  commenced  pouring  down 
in  a  frightful  hurricane,  and  driving  us  upon  the 
coast,  in  dangerous  proximity  with  the  shore.  All 
the  sail  that  could  possibly  be  spread  on  the  vessel, 
was  now  set ;  the  yards  were  braced  sharp  up  to 
the  wind;  and  the  brave  old  Fairfield,  turning  her 
nose  up  into  the  eye  of  the  tempest,  staggered 
off,  as  if  determined  to  extricate  herself  from  her 
perilous  situation.  Headland  after  headland  flew 
by  with  amazing  rapidity,  until  the  last  point  was 
weathered,  and  the  crew  began  to  congratulate  each 
other  on  having  obtained  a  secure  oifing,  when  the 
steersman  suddenly  put  hard  up  his  helm,  and 
rounded  off  the  ship  in  the  direction  of  *he  shore. 
The  yards  flew  round  as  if  by  magic ;  and  the  strug- 
gling vessel,  bowing  to  the  blast  scudded  away  be- 
fore it  with  fearful  velocity. 

"  Luff  her  up  again  !"  shouted  I,  to  the  helmsman, 
who  moved  the  wheel  one  spoke,  but  without  pro- 
ducing any  visible  change  in  the  movement  of  the 
vessel. 

T  mounted  the  capstan  to  scan  the  coast  we  were 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        371 

so  rapidly  nearing.  About  two  miles  to  leeward, 
I  beheld  a  large  reef  of  rocks,  extending  far  into 
the  sea,  and  against  which  the  angry  breakers  were 
rearing  their  huge  heads,  and  hurling  back  their 
white  caps  in  frosty  spray,  as  if  in  defiance  of  the 
hurricane.  Between  this  and  the  shore  the  sea 
was  perfectly  smooth ;  but  I  saw  at  a  glance  the 
utter  impossibility  of  scaling  such  an  immense  bar- 
rier. But  might  there  not  be  an  opening  in  the 
ledge  ?  I  strained  my  sight  in  search  of  the  de- 
sired passage,  but  all  to  no  purpose. 

Suddenly  a  dark  and  heavy  looking  cloud  gath- 
ered directly  over  the  reef — a  mighty  roar  of  wind 
was  distinctly  audible  amid  the  howling  of  the 
ocean  tempest,  while  a  bright  flash  of  lightning, 
bursting  from  the  heavens,  streamed  along  the 
horizon,  lighting  up  both  sea  and  land  in  a  flame 
of  fire.  The  ship,  as  if  frightened  by  the  terrific 
peal  of  thunder  that  followed,  swept  onward  in  the 
direction  of  the  shore  with  a  tenfold  speed.  My 
blood  curdled  in  my  veins  as  we  neared  the  fright- 
ful reef,  and  turning  again  towards  the  helmsman, 
I  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  of  desperation : 
"  Luff !  luff !  for  heaven's  sake,  luff !" 
Again  I  looked  towards  the  shore,  but  my  head 
grew  dizzy.  The  huge  breakers  rose  directly 
under  the  jibboom,  their  white  caps  dancing  for  a 
moment  in  the  air,  and  then  hurling  themselves  to 
windward  with  a  fury  that  sent  the  mist  and  spray 
showering  into  my  face.  I  sprang  from  the  cap- 


372        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

stan  to  the  wheel,  but  it  was  too  late.  A  tremen- 
dous crash  and  a  grating  noise,  that  made  the  ship 
quake  from  stem  to  stern,  decided  our  fate.  The 
mainmast  went  by  the  board,  and  fell  across  the 
forecastle.  I  turned  towards  the  cabin — a  mon- 
strous sea  reared  itself  up  astern,  and  came  sweep- 
ing over  the  deck,  bearing  in  its  course  both  cabin 
and  helm.  To  save  myself,  I  grasped  at  the  end 
of  a  brace  that  hung  dangling  from  a  belaying  pin, 
but  missing  it,  I  was  hurled  violently  to  the  deck, 
and  buried  beneath  the  crumbling  fragments  of  the 
wreck. 

"  Mercy !  mercy !"  exclaimed  I. 

"Mercy  it  is,"  answered  the  familiar  voice  of 
Stephens. 

"Where  are  you,  Nat?" 

"In  Georgetown,  blast  your  eyes;   where  are 

you?" 

"  Under  the  timbers,  Nat ;  is'nt  this  an  awful 
wreck  ?" 

"  Yes— beats  the  devil !  Every  thing  stoved  to 
splinters." 

"  All  hands  lost,  Nat  ?" 

"No,  nothing  lost  but  the  tub." 

"I  told  him  to  luff,  but  he  wouldn't,"  conti- 
nued I. 

"No,  nor  I  never  knowed  a  jackass  as  would 
luff  by  being  hollered  at,"  replied  Stephens.  "But 
come,  come,  you  lubber;  don't  be  rolling  here  like 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       373 

a  mud  turtle.  Get  up,  and  come  in  the  house—- 
your shipmates  are  waiting  for  you." 

"  No  use — can't  get  ashore  at  any  rate." 

"  Can't  get  ashore  ?  Why,  bugger  his  top- 
lights,  what  does  the  fellow  mean  ?  He  must  be 
dreaming.  Hillo  here,  bohoys,  all  hands  unmoor 
ship  !  Do  you  hear  that,  you  lubberly  street 
swabber  ?" 

The  shout  of  Stephens,  and  the  rough  shake  he' 
gave  me,  aroused  my  blunted  senses  from  the 
stupor  into  which  they  had  fallen ;  and  on  opening 
my  eyes,  which  I  found  strangely  dripping  with 
water,  my  looks  were  met  by  a  grim  visage,  almost 
as  frightful  in  appearance  as  the  horrible  dream 
from  which  I  had  just  awakened. 

"  Why,  heavens,  Stephens,  what's  all  this  ?"  ex- 
claimed I,  staring  wildly  in  the  fearful  face  that 
was  bending  over  me. 

"  Why,  don't  you  know  the  features  of  your  own 
jackass  ?"  answered  Stephens,  laughing  immode- 
rately at  my  surprise. 

"Ah,  yes,  I  see  now,"  said  I,  "but  how  in  the 
world  did  he  get  here  ?" 

"  Why,  Parkhill  tied  him  to  the  bench  leg,  to 
stand  guard  over  his  defunct  master,  and  to  keep 
the  soldiers  from  picking  your  pockets." 

"  And  to  upset  me,  I  suppose,  break  the  bench, 

and  make  shipwreck  of  the  tub.     Very  considerate 

of  him,  indeed  !     I  see  through  it  all  now,"  said  I, 

endeavoring  to  laugh,  but  with  little  inclination  to 

32 


374        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

enjoy  the  joke.  "  However,  say  nothing  about  it, 
Nat ;  my  turn  for  retaliation  may  come  some  day, 
and  if  I  don't  meet  him  with  an  equal  trick,  it  will 
be  because  he  can't  be  made  as  drunk  as  he  was  at 
Naples,  that's  all." 

Stephens  and  I,  mounting  into  our  saddles, 
trotted  off  to  Port  Mahon,  leaving  our  shipmates 
still  enjoying  themselves  in  their  noisy  revel  in 
Georgetown.  The  remainder  of  the  day  was  passed 
in  rambling  about  the  streets,  and  visiting  the 
markets.  At  night  we  repaired  to  a  fandango  in 
Castle  street,  where  near  thirty  girls  were  assem- 
bled, in  company  with  an  equal  number  of  sailors 
and  young  men  of  the  city.  The  soldiers,  attracted 
to  the  spot  by  the  sound  of  music,  collected  by 
degrees  in  a  crowd  about  the  door.  As  the  night 
advanced,  an  altercation  arose  in  the  street,  in 
consequence  of  some  of  the  soldiers  attempting  to 
rob  a  sailor.  A  dozen  blue  jackets  flew  to  the 
rescue  of  their  shipmate,  and  repulsed  the  soldiers. 
The  latter,  soon  returning  with  increased  numbers, 
and  armed  for  a  more  formidable  fray,  made  an 
attempt  to  drive  the  sailors  from  the  street.  The 
riot  now  became  general.  All  the  sailors  fled  from 
the  ballroom  into  the  street,  where  they  met  with 
a  warm  reception  from  the  soldiers,  who  made  a' 
free  use  of  their  knives,  as  well  as  their  muskets. 
Several  shots  were  fired,  one  of  which  took  effect 
in  the  arm  of  a  seaman  from  the  Brandywine, 
while  a  French  sailor,  who  had  joined  in  with  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       375 

Yankee  party,  had  his  cheek  laid  open  from  the 
cut  of  a  sabre.  The  sailors,  finding  the  fracas 
growing  too  hot  for  men  destitute  of  arms,  were 
compelled  to  yield  the  ground,  and  making  a  hasty 
retreat,  were  pursued  by  the  soldiers  in  every 
direction. 

After  running  near  two  squares  along  the  street 
I  was  met  by  a  party  of  three  soldiers  in  front. 
Dreading  the  consequences  cf  an  attempt  to  pass 
them,  I  darted  into  a  narrow  alley,  with  the  hope 
of  concealing  myself  until  they  had  gone  by.  But 
they  had  observed  my  movements,  and  rushed  up 
the  alley  in  pursuit.  I  hastened  on  in  the  dark- 
ness, blundering  over  endless  obstructions,  and  at 
fast  discovered,  to  my  increased  alarm,  that  the 
place  in  which  I  had  sought  refuge  was  an*enclosed 
court,  destitute  of  any  opening  at  the  opposite  ex- 
tremity. Fully  determined  to  sell  my  life  as  dearly 
as  possible,  I  took  my  stand  against  a  closed  door 
opening  into  the  court,  and,  though  armed  with 
nothing  more  deadly  than  a  bayonet  that  I  had 
wrenched  from  the  musket  of  one  of  my  former 
assailants,  awaited  with  a  desperate  resolution  the 
approach  of  my  foes.  They  groped  their  way  on- 
ward in  the  dark,  muttering  deadly  imprecations 
on  the  insolent  "  Americanos,"  and  finally  disco- 
vering me  in  my  retreat,  rushed  exultingly  upon 
me  with  brickbats  and  stones.  I  had  aimed  my 
weapon  for  a  deadly  thrust  at  the  breast  of  the 
nearest  assailant,  when  the  door  against  which  I 


376       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

had  taken  shelter  suddenly  opened,  and  a  hand, 
seizing  my  arm,  drew  me  inside.  Quick  as  thought 
the  door  was  again  closed,  while  the  soldiers  with- 
out thundered  against  it  with  renewed  vociferations. 
My  thoughts  were  completely  bewildered.  I  saw 
nothing  —  heard  nothing.  The  hand  that  had 
rescued  me  from  danger  had  let  go  my  arm,  and 
on  looking  around  all  was  dark  and  silent.  I 
attempted  to  speak,  when  the  word  "  hist !"  fell  in 
a  whisper  on  my  ear,  and  then  all  became  again 
quiet  as  the  grave.  Presently  a  step  approached, 
and  my  arm  being  again  grasped  by  an  unseen 
hand,  I  was  drawn  along  until  I  found  myself  in 
contact  with  a  stairway. 

"Up^up,"  was  again  whispered  in  my  ear,  and 
following  the  direction  of  the  wall  I  mounted 
quietly  upward. 

On  gaining  the  upper  floor,  I  soon  stumbled 
against  a  bed,  at  which  point  I  was  left  to  myself, 
while  the  footsteps  of  my  invisible  guide  receded 
in  the  direction  of  the  stairs.  The  soldiers  had,  in 
the  meantime,  ceased  their  knocking  at  the  door, 
though  I  still  heard  voices  in  the  court  below.  With 
mingled  feelings  of  surprise  and  curiosity,  I  seated 
myself  on  the  bedside  resolved  to  await  patiently  the 
denouement  of  these  mysterious  proceedings.  That 
I  was  in  a  bedroom  was  evident  enough,  but  what 
were  its  dimensions,  or  who  its  hynates,  the  dark- 
ness of  the  place  precluded  me  from  determining. 
Long  I  sat  in  anticipation  of  a  light,  but  no  light 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       377 

came  ;  and  as  hour  stole  upon  hour  without  bring- 
ing any  relief  to  my  anxiety,  I  stretched  myself 
on  the  bed  with  a  vain  endeavor  to  compose  myself 
to  slumber.  Twenty  times  I  started  up,  with  an 
intention  to  seek  an  egress  to  the  street,  but  was  as 
often  deterred  from  the  undertaking  by  the  oppres- 
sive gloom  that  hung  like  a  pall  of  death  over 
every  thing  around  me. 

'Well,"  thought  I,  at  last,  "let  me  be  where  I 
will,  I  am  certainly  under  the  protection  of  friends," 
and  drawing  a  cheering  consolation  from  this  reflec- 
tion, I  once  more  resigned  myself  to  the  arms  of 
Morpheus,  and  was  soon  lost  in  a  sound  sleep. 

How  many  hours  were  passed  in  happy  forget- 
fulness  I  know  not,  but  when  I  awoke  my  eyes  were 
greeted  by  a  faint  glimmer  of  light  glancing  from 
the  side  of  a  small  window  fronting  the  court. 
Feeble  as  were  the  rays,  they  nevertheless  rendered 
objects  around  me  discernible.  The  apartment, 
though  small,  had  evidently  been  arranged  with  an 
eye  to  comfort.  The  fixtures,  however,  were  scanty, 
and  besides  the  bed  consisted  only  of  a  few  chairs, 
a  rush  carpet,  and  an  elegant  mirror.  A  small 
table  also  graced  one  side  of  the  apartment,  pre- 
senting a  display  of  empty  wine  bottles  and  a  glass 
fase,  the  latter  of  which  was  crowned  with  a 
oouquet  of  artificial  flowers. 

Finding  myself  still  alone,  and  hearing  no  noise 
about  the  house,  I  rose  quietly  from  the  bed  and 
withdrew  the  blind  from  the  window.     The  morn- 
82* 


878        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

mg  was  already  far  advanced,  and  the  sunlight 
streamed  into  the  apartment  with  a  brilliancy  that 
righted  up  every  object  around  me.  On  turning 
round  my  eyes  rested  on  some  one  asleep  on  a 
mattrass,  and  on  a  closer  scrutiny  I  discovered  that 
it  was  a  female.  Abashed  and  agitated  at  finding 
myself  thus  unexpectedly  alone  with  a  lady  in  her 
sleeping  apartment,  I  hesitated  how  to  act.  After 
some  deliberation  I  concluded,  however,  that  follow 
what  might,  there  could  be  no  harm  in  taking  a 
momentary  peep  at  her  face,  and  kneeling  cau- 
tiously at  the  side  of  the  couch,  I  traced  with 
trembling  curiosity  every  visible  portion  of  her 
features.  So  much  loveliness  I  had  not  before 
seen  in  any  one  of  her  countrywomen.  Her  slen- 
der neck  and  well-rounded  shoulders  were  of  the 
most  captivating  mould,  and  rivalled  in  whiteness 
the  loveliest  of  American  belles. 

"  Can  it  be  possible,"  muttered  I,  "  that  I  am 
indebted  to  this  beautiful  creature  for  my  safety, 
and  perhaps  even  for  my  life." 

My  words  dispelled  the  enchantment.  A  slight 
rustling  of  the  mattrass  followed,  her  head  rose  up, 
her. eyes  opened,  and  the  sleeping  beauty  was 
awake. 

Both  started  simultaneously ;  both  sat  apart 
regarding  each  other  in  mutual  silence,  and  it 
would  have  required  a  third  person  to  tell  which 
blushed  with  the  deeper  confusion.  She  was  the 
first  to  break  the  silence. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        379 

"  You  no  be  afraid  ?"  said  she,  her  face  relaxing 
into  a  smile 

"  No,  I  am  not  afraid  now"  answered  I,  "though 
I  ^ras  while  you  were  asleep.  Every  thing  appeared 
so  strange  and  unaccountable.  Can  you  tell  me  to 
whom  I  am  indebted  for  my  timely  rescue  last 
night  ?" 

"  Say  nossing  about  it,"  replied  she,  confusedly. 
"  De  soldiers  no  kill  you  now." 

"  No,  I  have  no  fear  of  them  killing  me  in  open 
daylight ;  but  tell  me  was  it  you  who  opened  the 
door — was  it  your  hand  that  drew  me  in  the  house 
and  led  me  up  stairs  ?" 

"  Yes,  me  hear  de  soldiers  in  de  street,  and  hear 
you  at  de  door,  and  den  me  run  down  stairs  and 
save-e  you."  , 

"  And  that  too  without  knowing  who  or  what  I 
was  ?" 

"  No,  me  know  you ;  me  ask-e  your  name  at  de 
fandango." 

"  But  it  was  dark  in  the  court — how  could  you 
recognize  me  there  ?" 

"  Me  follow  you  from  de  fandango,  and  see  you 
run  down  de  alley." 

"Followed  me!"  exclaimed  I.  "What  coulcl 
induce  you  to  follow  a  total  stranger  ?" 

The  girl  blushed  deeply  at  the  question,  and 
after  pome  hesitation  muttered  a  reply. 

"  De  womens  say  you  has  no  friend  aboard  the 
scip." 


380       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  Indeed,  no  female  friend,  eh !  And  so  I  presume 
you  follow  me  to  become  my  friend — is  it  so  ?" 

She  made  no  reply,  but  the  smile  that  struggled 
through  her  blushes,  gave  an  affirmative  assent  to 
my  question. 

"Well,  I  am  really  very  much  obliged  to  the 
women,  for  their  generous  consideration,"  said  I ; 
"and  your  timely  aid  in  rescuing  me  from  the 
rage  of  the  soldiers,  places  me  under  a  thousand 
fold  deeper  obligations  to  yourself.  What  return 
can  I  make  you,  as  a  first  token  of  my  friendship?" 

"  Nada !  nada  !"  said  she,  in  her  own  language, 
and  shaking  her  head  tnoughtfully. 

"Nothing,  indeed?  Is  there  no  kind  act — no 
little  present,  you  can  think  of,  that  would  be 
pleasing  to  you  ?  Can  you  not^give  me  some  oppor- 
tunity of  returning  the  gratitude  my  heart  feels 
bound  to  award  you  ?" 

She  remained  silent,  and  for  a  full  minute  I 
watched  her  face,  which  was  working  with  variable 
emotions.  Her  eyes  were  bent  upon  her  lap,  and 
presently  tears  stole  forth.  Again  she  ventured 
to  speak  in  English,  but  it  was  with  the  confusion 
of  one,  who  felt  a  humiliation  in  her  own  words. 

"  Suppose-e  you  like,  when  you  sometimes  conies 
from  the  scip,  you  please  give-e  me — 

The  sentence  died  unfinished  on  her  lips,  arid 
she  hastily  averted  her  face. 

"  Give  you  what  ?"  said  I  encouragingly.  "  la 
it  money  ?" 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       381 

The  pressure  of  the  hand  that  followed  my 
words,  convinced  me,  that  I  had  not  been  wrong 
in  ray  conjecture. 

"Enough!"  exclaimed  I,  "If  money  is  what 
you  want,  you  shall  not  wait  for  it  till  another  leave 
of  absence  from  the  ship,"  and  drawing  my  purse 
from  my  bosom,  I  emptied  the  contents  in  her  lap. 
"  There  are  three  dollars  at  your  service,  and  were 
ir  three  times  three,  you  should  be  welcome  to  it 
all.  And  there,"  added  I,  slinging  the  purse  after 
it,  "  take  that  to  put  it  in.  Were  it  my  last  dollar 
in  the  world,  I  would  cheerfully  share  it  with  you." 

Her  looks  brightened,  as  she  turned  over  the 
money  in  her  lap,  and  the  nervous  agitation  of  her 
fingers,  told  how  opportunely  came  the  gift.  She 
insisted  on  me  receiving  one  half  back ;  but  I  wa3 
peremptory  in  forcing  the  whole  purse  upon  her, 
conditioning,  however,  with  her,  to  furnish  me  a 
breakfast  out  of  the  contents.  To  this  she  readily 
assented  ;  and  on  my  expressing  a  wish  to  have  it 
prepared  as  soon  as  possible,  in  order  to  make  an 
early  return  to  the  ship,  we  both  tripped  off  to  tho 
kitchen,  where  charcoal,  pans,  cauliflower,  eggs, 
and  herrings  were  successively  called  in  requisition, 
and  a  bright  prospect  of  Spanish  cookery,  immedi- 
ately opened  in  perspective  before  me. 

While  breakfast  was  preparing,  an  old  crone 
walked  into  the  apartment,  whose  wrinkled  brow, 
pinched  up  visage,  and  tattered  dress,  betokened  a 
life  of  privation  and  want.  She  spoke  in  Spanish ; 


382        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

and  after  a  profusion  of  nods,  winks,  exclamations 
and  crosses  to  my  young  hostess,  she  drew  a  chair 
forward,  and  seating  herself  directly  in  front  of 
me,  commenced  a  minute  scrutiny  of  my  person. 
Having  examined  me  from  head  to  foot,  and  satis- 
fied herself  from  numerous  twitchings  of  my  jacket 
and  neck  handkerchief  that  I  actually  was  a  live 
Yankee,  she  drew  my  hand  in  hers,  and  clasping 
it  tightly  with  her  bony  fingers,  asked  me  what  I 
thought  of  Frank. 

"  Who  is  Frank?"  inquired  I.  "Is  he  one  of 
the  soldiers  ?" 

"Bah!  Diablo!  Me  no  talk-e  de  soldads !" 
exclaimed  she,  contemptuously.  "  Frank  !  Frank  ! 
You  no  comprehend  de  gall,"  added  she,  pointing 
her  finger  to  the  young  lady. 

"  Is  her  name  Frank  ?"  inquired  I. 

"  Si,  senor  !  Me  always  talk-e  de  name  Frank, 
otro  peoples  call-e  she  Francisca." 

I  soon  discovered  that  my  wretched  looking 
interrogator,  was  no  greater  nor  less  a  person, 
than  Frank's  own  mother ;  and  on  my  expressing, 
in  warm  terms,  my  admiration  of  her  daughter, 
she  was  transported  into  a  sudden  fit  of  good 
humor,  and  grew  so  garrulous  on  the  strength  of 
it,  that  before  breakfast  was  half  over,  she  even 
made  me  a  proposal  of  her  daughter  in  marriage. 
Frank  was  exceedingly  confused,  and  endeavored 
to  silence  her,  but  she  still  chattered  on  in  her  own 
silly  way,  and  persisted  in  having  my  answer  to  the 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       383 

proposal.  Finding  myself  constrained  to  say  some- 
thing, I  told  her  that  in  my  present  circumstances 
1  was  wholly  unprepared  to  marry — that  it  would, 
in  fact,  be  a  serious  undertaking,  while  so  far 
away  from  my  own  country — and  that,  as  it  waa 
an  act  which  could  not  easily  be  recalled  when 
once  entered  into,  she  must  give  me  ample  time  to 
study  the  matter  over.  My  request  appeared  so 
reasonable  that  the  old  lady  agreed  to  allow  me 
six  weeks  to  make  up  my  mind,  during  which  time 
I  was  to  procure  leave  of  absence  from  the  ship 
as  often  as  possible  and  endeavor  to  visit  Frank 
once  a  week.  This  arrangement  being  in  no  way 
objectionable  to  any  of  the  parties  concerned,  all 
assented  to  it,  and  the  subject  was  permitted  to 
rest  for  the  present. 

.  On  ascertaining  the  time  of  day,  I  found  that  I 
had  already  overstayed  my  furlough  from  the 
ship,  and  began  to  feel  a  little  uneasiness  as  to  the 
consequences.  I  was  hence  necessarily  compelled 
to  take  a  hasty  leave  of  my  new  friends.  With  a 
warm  pressure  of  the  hand,  and  a  smile  from  Frank, 
together  with  an  actual  hug  from  the  old  woman,  I 
issued  into  the  court,  and  hastening  down  Castle 
street,  made  the  best  of  my  way  to  the  navy 
yard. 

During  the  following  month  some  considerable 
changes  were  made  among  the  officers  of  the  squad- 
ron. Our  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Whittle,  having  been 
invalided  on  our  return  from  Naples,  took  up  his 


384       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

residence  on  shore.  This  occurrence  would  have 
placed  Mr.  Boyle  second  in  command.  But  tho 
latter  gentleman,  having  heen  appointed  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Preble,  Mr.  Hunter,  our  third  lieuten- 
ant, was  installed  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Whittle.  Mr. 
Lannier,  our  sailing  master,  having  been  promoted  to 
a  lieutenancy,  was  transferred  to  the  Brandywine, 
and  a  passed  midshipman  named  Williamson  was  sent 
to  take  his  place,  as  master,  on  hoard  the  Fairfield. 

The  reader  has  been  informed  in  a  former  chap- 
ter, that  Mr.  Lannier  hired  me  to  write  the  ship's 
log ;  and  for  the  services  I  had  rendered  in  this 
department  of  his  duties,  he  paid  me  six  dollars,  at 
Naples.  Mr.  Williamson,  however,  deeming  it 
incumbent  on  a  foremast  hand,  to  do  just  whatever 
an  officer  bid  him,  objected  to  giving  me  any  con- 
sideration, whatever,  for  the  same  duties,  and  to 
sneet  him  on  his  own  grounds,  I  objected  to  the  per- 
formance of  the  duties,  under  any  consideration, 
whatever.  My  refusal  drew  some  abusive  language 
from  the  new  master,  in  which  he  tried  to  frighten 
me  into  submission,  by  threatening  to  report  me  to 
the  first  lieutenant.  I  told  him  to  crack  his  whip, 
and  go  ahead,  for  I  would  see  both  him  and  his 
log-book  to  Davy  Jones'  locker,  before  I  would 
scratch  another  stroke  of  the  pen  in  it. 

As  might  be  expected,  I  was  soon  arraigned  be- 
fore Mr.  Hunter  for  insolence.  I  made  a  plain 
statement  of  the  case  to  our  new  first  lieutenant* 
and  excused  myself,  on  the  plea,  that  Mr.  William- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        385 

son.  by  repeated  provocations,  had  forced  insolent 
language  from  me — that  it  was  the  master's  mate's 
duty  to  write  the  log— and  that  my  duties  on  the 
forecastle,  were  of  so  arduous  a  nature,  as  to  require 
my  presence,  at  all  times,  in  that  part  of  the  ship. 

Mr.  Hunter  immediately  negatived  the  complaint 
of  the  master,  and  told  him  to  hand  his  log-book 
over  to  Mr.  Tripp,  and  let  him  attend  to  the  writing 
of  it. 

"Mr.  Tripp  cannot  write,"  said  the  master. 

"  Then  he  has  no  business  with  the  office,"  an- 
swered Mr.  Hunter.  "  If  he  cannot  discharge  its 
duties,  turn  him  out  of  it,  and  put  a  man  there  who 
can." 

"  That  is  for  the  captain  to  attend  to,  and  not 
me,"  observed  the  master. 

"  Then  make  your  complaint  to  the  proper  au- 
thority, instead  of  me,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  compelled  to  make  his  re- 
treat to  the  steerage,  and  betake  himself  in  search 
of  a  new  clerk,  without  enjoying  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  me  punished. 

But  though  I  had  thus  beaten  off  Mr.  William- 
son in  his  first  complaint,  and  relieved  myself  from 
a  duty,  which  at  best  was  not  a  very  agreeable  one, 
I  was  not  long  in  discovering  that  I  had  but  little 
to  boast  of  in  my  victory.  The  new  master  had, 
from  the  commencement  of  our  misunderstanding, 
become  my  most  implacable  enemy,  and  spared  no 
opportunity  of  annoying  me.  More  than  once  he 
33 


386        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

condescended  to  step  aside  from  the  routine  of  hia 
own  duties,  with  the  prospect  of  catching  me  trip- 
ping in  some  petty  violation  of  discipline,  by  which 
he  hoped  to  draw  upon  me  the  vengeance  of  the 
captain.  But  I  understood  him ;  and  though  I 
hated  him  with  as  hearty  a  good  will  as  he  did  me, 
I  could  not  forbear  pitying  the  littleness  of  that 
spirit  which  could  induce  him  to  seek  a  mean  re- 
venge on  a  common  sailor,  by  peeping  around  cor- 
ners, and  endeavoring  to  waylay  him  during  hours 
of  mirth  and  amusement. 

Some  twenty  sailors  of  us,  were  one  day  amusing 
ourselves  at  a  game  of  quoits  in  the  rear  of  one  of 
the  navy  buildings,  when  Mr.  Williamson  stole  un- 
expectedly upon  us,  and  singling  me  out  from 
among  the  party,  observed  that  I  would  better  be 
white-washing  the  beef  barrels  that  were  lying  on 
the  wharf,  than  wasting  iny  time  in  quoit  and 
penny  pitching.  The  party  immediately  dispersed, 
and  I  repaired,  with  the  rest,  to  my  employment  in 
the  store-house.  The  master  soon  after  entered  the 
place  where  I  was  at  work,  and  in  a  very  insulting 
manner,  demanded  of  me,  why  I  was  not  white- 
washing the  beef  barrels,  in  accordance  with  his 
orders.  His  behavior  threw  me  off  my  usual 
guard,  and  I  answered  in  a  tone  that  ill  became 
my  station. 

"Because,  sir,  I  did'nt  see  fit  to  do  it,  that's 
all." 

"  Away,  you  insolent  scoundrel,  and  do  my  bid- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        387 

ding    this    instant !"  exclaimed    Mr.    "Williamson, 
trembling  with  rage. 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  I  have  more  important  busi- 
ness on  hand,"  said  I,  touching  my  hat  with  the 
most  ironical  civility. 

"  Do  you  dare  to  disobey  my  order,  sir  ?"  cried  he. 

"Yes',  sir,  I  do  !" 

"  Very  well,  sir  !  Very  well  sir  !  That's  all  I 
wish  to  know  !  We'll  see  whether  you  will  dare  to 
tell  me  that  before  Captain  Tattnall,  on  the  quar- 
ter-deck," and  with  bitter  denunciations  of  ven- 
geance, the  enraged  master  stalked  out  of  the  rig- 
ging loft. 

"You'll  get  fetched  up,  with  a  round  turn,  to 
the  tune  of  one  dozen  for  that,"  said  Parkhill,  who 
was  working  at  my  elbow. 

"  I  don't  care  a  French  sou  if  I  do,"  answered 
I.  "  My  time  will  be  out  week  after  next,  and  I 
would  as  soon  carry  home  a  dozen  lashes  as  not." 

The  master  proceeded  directly  to  the  ship,  and 
as  the  captain  had  arrived  on  board  a  few  minutes 
before,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  pass  the  following 
night  in  double  irons.  But  the  evening  approached, 
and  passed  by,  without  my  arrest.  The  following 
day,  two  men  were  placed  in  limbo  for  fighting,  and, 
in  the  evening,  a  third  for  drunkenness,  but  still  I 
heard  nothing  in  respect  to  my  quarrel  with  the 
master. 

On  the  third  day,  all  hands  were  called  to  wit- 
ness punishment.  Each  of  the  prisoners  received 


388        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  TIIE  MAST. 

his  ratio  of  lashes  according  to  the  nature  of  hig 
crime ;  and  as  the  last  was  re-clothing  himself,  I 
began  to  flatter  myself  with  the  belief,  that  my 
offence  had  been  forgotten.  Mr.  Forester,  the  new 
boatswain,  had  put  his  call  to  his  lips,  to  pipe  a  re- 
treat, when  Mr.  Williamson  suddenly  appeared  on 
deck.  His  presence  appeared  to  serve  as  a  signal 
for  my  appearance  at  the  mainmast.  The  captain 
had  me  called  up,  and  after  recounting  the  charges 
alleged  against  me,  desired  to  know  what  I  had  to 
say  in  my  own  behalf. 

"Not  a  word,  sir,"  replied  I.  "Mr.  William- 
son's charges  are  all  correct." 

"Your  delinquency  is  then  inexcusable,"  said 
the  captain.  "  Strip,  sir,  strip." 

I  straightway  commenced  "  peeling"  for  my 
rations,  while  many  of  my  shipmates,  who  were 
not  before  aware  of  my  offence,  witnessed  the  pro- 
ceedings with  surprise.  While  in  the  act  of  re- 
moving my  under-cloth§s,  Mr.  Hunter  insinuated 
himself  between  the  captain  and  master,  and 
addressed  the  former  in  an  undertone,  of  which  I 
only  overheard  the  word,  "  unnecessary  harshness." 

"  It  can't  be  helped,"  said  the  captain ;  "  I  must 
punish  him." 

"He's  a  very  good  man,  sir,"  replied  Mr. 
Hunter. 

"  But  he  disobeyed  my  order,"  cried  the  master. 

"True,  true,"  observed  the  captain,  impatiently; 
"  he  disobeyed  Mr.  Williamson's  orders  ;  and  diso- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        389 

bedience  of  orders  is  a  breach  of  discipline  which, 
under  any  circumstances,  cannot  be  excused." 

"In  the  present  instance  it  might  be  overlooked," 
continued  the  first  lieutenant.  "  There  can  be  no 
risk  in  excusing  an  exemplary  man." 

"Such  clemency  to  even  exemplary  men,  cannot 
safely  be  granted,"  replied  the  captain.  "  It 
would  be  setting  an  open  door  to  similar  breaches 
of  disciplinejn  future." 

"And,  besides,  he  disobeyed  my  order,"  repeated 
Mr.  Williamson. 

"I  would  rather  not  see  him  punished,"  said 
Mr.  Hunter,  as  the  quarter-master  finished  tying 
my  hands. 

The  captain  paused,  as  if  hesitating  whether  or 
not  to  proceed. 

"  Remember,  sir,  he  disobeyed  my  order,"  again 
chimed  in  the  master,  endeavoring  to  jog  the  wa- 
vering resolution  of  the  captain. 

"Young  man,"  at  length  began  the  captain, 
addressing  himself  to  me,  "I  have  had  an  eye 
directed  particularly  to  your  conduct  ever  since 
your  appearance  on  board  this  ship,  and  I  concur 
with  Mr.  Hunter  in  saying  that  I  have  hitherto 
found  it  perfectly  correct ;  and  I  sincerely  regret 
that  now  when  your  term  of  service  has  so  near 
expired,  any  thing  should  have  occurred  making  it 
necessary  for  me  to  put  you  to  the  gangway." 

"  Well,  Captain  Tattnall,"  replied  I,  "it  is  the 
first  time  I  have  been  at  the  gangway  for  a  wilful 
33* 


390        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

breach  of  discipline,  since  my  entrance  in  the  navy ; 
and  I  would  not  be  here  now,  had  Mr.  Williamson 
addressd  his  order  in  language  becoming  an  officer. 
But  his  rude  manner  made  me  angry,  and  in  my 
passion  I  answered  in  hasty  words  that  my  own 
cooler  judgment  as  well  as  the  law  condemns.  I 
know,  however,  that  I  am  guilty,  and  shall  not 
flinch  from  the  penalty.  Let  the  boatswain's  mate 
do  his  duty,  sir." 

"  I  am  conscious,  Captain  Tattnall,"  again  inter- 
posed the  first  lieutenant,  "that  this  is  his  first 
offence  in  this  ship,  and  I  would  regard  it  as  a 
special  favor  to  have  him  excused." 

"Have  it  as  you  wish,  then,"  replied  the  cap- 
tain. "  Quarter-master,  cut  him  loose." 

The  knife  of  old  Hull  was  instantly  at  my 
wrists,  and  away  went  thongs,  as  well  as  hands. 
The  first  lieutenant  ordered  the  retreat  to  be  piped, 
and  all  hands  dispersed,  while  the  disappointed 
master  descended  to  the  steerage  with  a  hatred 
ten  times  more  deadly  than  he  had  ever  cherished 
before. 

On  descending  to  the  berth-deck,  I  alighted  on 
my  young  friend,  Mr.  Turner,  sitting  against  the 
forward  bulk-head  of  the  ship,  with  his  face  bathed 
in  tears.  After  some  inquiries  in  respect  to  the 
cause  of  his  troubles,  I  discovered  that  the  pseudo 
aristocracy  of  the  steerage,  had  at  last,  accom- 
plished their  favorite  project  of  bringing  the  ple- 
beian midshipman  into  difficulties  with  his  com- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        391 

mander.  He  had,  the  previous  day,  been  sent  on 
shore  in  charge  of  a  boat,  and  two  of  the  men, 
pretending  to  have  an  errand  into  the  town,  re- 
quested to  have  a  few  minutes  leave  of  absence. 
As  it  was  against  orders  to  suffer  any  man  to  leave 
the  boat,  the  young  midshipman  refused  their 
request,  until  advised  by  an  elder  midshipman  to 
let  them  go,  upon  which  he  finally  yielded  his  con- 
sent to  their  departure.  Neither  of  them  returned 
at  the  stipulated  time ;  and  after  an  hour's  delay, 
the  boat  was  obliged  to  retrace  its  way  homeward 
without  them.  During  the  passage  to  the  ship, 
the  elder  officer,  in  pretended  commiseration  of  the 
distress  which  the  absence  of  the  two  men  was  occa- 
sioning Turner,  told  him  to  report  them  to  the  first 
lieutenant  as  having  run  away.  Turner  incau- 
tiously followed  the  advice  of  his  wily  messmate ; 
and  no  sooner  had  his  report  become  known  in«the 
steerage,  than  his  enemies  laid  a  full  detail  of  the 
facts  before  the  commander,  in  as  aggravated  a  form 
as  they  dared  well  present  it.  As  an  unavoidable 
consequence,  Turner  was  suspended  from  duty,  and 
two  charges  were  preferred  against  him  for  inves- 
tigation ;  one  for  disobedience  of  orders,  and  the 
other  for  having  made  a  false  report  to  his  com- 
manding officer. 

I  saw  at  once  that  Mr.  Turner's  case  was  one 
of  too  serious  a  nature  for  me  to  afford  him  any 
aid  in  it.  That  it  would  be  referred  to  the  inves- 
tigation of  a  court  martial,  appeared  unquestiona- 


392       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

ble ;  and  so  deep  a  conviction  had  the  poor  boy  of 
a  final  suspension  from  the  service,  that  he  had 
already,  in  a  manner,  made  up  his  mind  to  antici- 
cipate  his  sentence  by  running  away  from  the 
equadron.  He  had  fixed  an  eye  on  the  French 
navy,  and  thought  of  trying  to  obtain  admittance 
there.  I  deemed  these  wild  notions  as  being  the 
mere  fanciful'  whims  of  a  boy?  and  advised  him  to 
stick  to  the  old  Fairfield  as  long  as  he  was  not  dis- 
missed, and  so  long  as  two  of  her  timbers  were 
hanging  together.  But  he  was  inconsolable ;  and 
though  I  talked,  and  endeavored  to  reason  with 
him,  he  still  persisted  in  having  his  cry  out.  As 
the  boatswain's  call  had  already  sounded  to  din- 
ner, I  was  obliged  to  leave  him  to  himself.  Poor 
fellow !  It  was  the  last  conversation  I  ever  had 
with  him ;  and  though  years  have  since  fled,  and 
at  $imes  his  sad  tearful  eyes,  have  risen  before  me 
in  my  nightly  visions,  his  subsequent  career  re- 
mains to  me  aa  deep  a  mystery  as  the  hidden  se- 
crets of  unborn  time. 


In  which  the  Adventurer  abandons  the  Mess-Room  of  Uncle  Sam, 
and  takes  up  a  brief  residence  on  the  Island  of  Minorca. 

BEFORE  the  court-martial  had  been  convened  that 
was  to  decide  upon  the  official  career  of  the  unfor- 
tunate Turner,  the  12th  of  January,  1842,  arrived. 
This  was  the  day  on  which  the  tocsin  of  personal 
.independence  was  once  more  to  be  sounded  in  my 
ears.  My  time  was  out.  The  three  years  of  trans- 
fers, bean  soup,  and  salt  junk,  had  at  last  ceased ; 
the  reign  of  terror  and  cat-o'-nine-tails  was  over, 
and  I  was  about  to  stalk  once  more  into  the  world 
an  unfettered  American  citizen.  Mr.  Hunter  was 
the  first  to  call  the  subject  to  notice,  and  having 
ascertained  from  the  books  of  the  purser  that  my 
time  had  actually  expired,  proceeded  to  communi- 
cate the  important  intelligence  to  the  commander 
of  the  ship.  The  captain  soon  appeared  on  deck, 
and  sent  a  committee  in  the  form  of  a  boatswain's- 
mate  to  conduct  me  to  the  mainmast.  A  crowd  of 
sailors  had  preceded  me  aft  to  witness  the  inter- 
view. On  presenting  myself  before  the  captain,  he 
requested  to  know  what  I  intended  to  do. 

"  Sir,"  replied  I,  "  when  I  solicited  an  exchange 
at  Hampton  Roads,  in  Virginia,  you  denied  my 

(393) 


394       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

request.  I  told  you  then  that  I  would  quit  the 
service  as  soon  as  my  time  expired.  My  resolu- 
tion is  still  unchanged,  and  my  intention  now  is  to 
return  home." 

"  I  would  like  very  well  to  gratify  your  wish,  if 
circumstances  would  permit,"  said  the  captain ; 
"  but  your  services  in  the  ship  cannot  well  be  dis- 
pensed with.  You  must  re-enter  for  the  cruise." 

"Never,  sir,"  answered  I,  firmly.  "No  possible 
compensation  that  you  can  offer  will  ever  induce 
me  to  re-enter." 

"  Then  I  will  be  compelled  to  resort  to  coercive 
measures,"  proceeded  the  captain.  "  Mr.  Forrest, 
you  need  not  make  out  this  man's  account,  as  I 
shall  return  him  immediately  to  his  duty.  His 
services,  if  not  important  now,  will  become  so  in 
the  spring,  and  I  shall  accordingly  detain  him  at 
my  discretion  to  the  end  of  the  cruise.  You  see," 
added  he,  again  turning  to  me,  "that  the  law  has 
provided  a  way  for  commanding  your  services, 
whether  you  choose  to  re-enter  or  not." 

"  But,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  the  ship  has  been  in 
commission  only  a  little  over  eight  months,  and 
she  may  yet  remain  near  three  years  on  this  sta- 
tion. Will  not  my  detention  for  such  a  long  period 
of  time  be  equivalent  to  an  impressment  ?" 

"Impressment  or  not  impressment,  it  is  the  law 
provided  by  act  of  Congress,  and  I  but  carry 
out  its  provisions  in  withholding  your  discharge. 
You  will,  therefore,  return  to  your  duty,  and  that 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       395 

without  grumbling,  too,  for  I  shall  meet  the  slight- 
est act  of  insubordination  with  a  vigorous  applica- 
tion of  the  cats.  Do  you  hear  that  ?" 

Indeed,  I  did  hear  the  words  of  the  captain,  and 
their  harshness  was  as  unexpected  as  their  import 
was  disheartening.  All  those  illusive  dreams  of 
bliss  with  which  I  had  indulged  my  fancy,  in  antici- 
pation of  my  discharge,  were  buried  at  once  in  a 
long  shade  of  darkness  and  night.  These  few 
brief  words  fell  like  a  deadening  blow  on  my  heart, 
which  a  moment  before  had  been  bounding  at  the 
prospect  of  an  early  re-union  with  the  delights  of 
home,  and  a  second  entrance  into  happy  compan- 
ionship with  long-lost  loved  ones.  All,  all  those 
hopes  were  now  dissipated  by  the  revolting  word 
law,  and  in  their  place  arose,  in  scornful  prospec- 
tive before  me,  another  three  years  of  toil  and 
turbulence,  accompanied  with  every  species  of  pri- 
vation and  cruelty.  The  thing  seemed  an  utter 
impossibility.  I  looked  the  captain  in  the  face, 
wondering  in  my  own  mind  if  he  could  really  mean 
what  he  said.  His  countenance  was  as  stern  and 
inflexible  as  the  law  he  invoked.  I  attempted  to 
speak,  but  it  was  all  up  with  me.  My  utterance 
was  gone  ;  my  bosom  swelled  with  strange  sensa- 
tions, and  turning  my  face  hastily  aside  to  conceal 
my  emotion,  I  burst  into  tears. 

On  the  disappearance  of  the  captain  in  the 
cabin,  I  regained  command  of  my  feelings,  and 
felt  extremely  mortified  at  having  suffered  myself 


396        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

to  be  overcome  by  such  boyish  weakness.  My 
shipmates,  who  appeared  to  sympathize  deeply  in 
my  disappointment,  gathered  round  me  in  the 
gangway,  and  gave  expression  to  various  comments 
on  the  recent  scene,  which  all  freely  acknowledged 
to  be  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  cases  of  deten- 
tion they  had  ever  heard  tell  of.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  discourse  was  interrupted  by  one  of  the  stew- 
ards, who  brought  me  word  that  the  first  lieutenant 
desired  my  presence  in  the  ward-room.  On  repair- 
ing below,  I  found  Mr.  Hunter  seated  at  the  ward- 
room table  in  company  with  the  first  lieutenant  of 
the  Preble.  Having  consulted  between  themselves 
on  the  subject  of  my  discharge,  both  advised  me 
to  appeal  to  the  commander-in-chief ;  and  as  the 
appeal  could  not  be  made  without  the  approbation 
of  Captain  Tattnall,  Mr.  Boyle  insisted  on  me 
going  at  once  to  him,  and  asking  his  permission. 
Unhesitatingly  I  mounted  at  once  to  the  cabin 
door,  and  on  being  announced  by  the  sentry  was 
told  to  walk  in.  When  my  errand  was  explained, 
the  captain  smiled,  and  told  me  that  I  had  his  full 
permission  to  make  the  appeal ;  that  he  had  in  fact 
no  real  intention  of  detaining  me,  unless  such 
should  be  the  desire  of  the  commodore.  These 
words  were  exceedingly  cheering  to  my  mind,  and 
I  hastened  back  to  the  ward-room  with  a  light 
heart.  Mr.  Hunter  immediately  ordered  the  third 
cutter  called  away  to  row  me  on  shore,  and  as  I 
descended  the  side-ladder  he  observed  that  I  was 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        397 

henceforth  at  liberty  to  go  and  come  whenever  I 
pleased. 

Put  a  man-o'-war  sailor  on  shore,  and  if  there 
be  a  -woman  within  twenty  miles  who  ever  favored 
him  with  three  kind  words  and  a  smile,  no  tempta- 
tion will  induce  him  to  pause  until  he  sees  her.  No 
sooner  had  I  touched  the  landing  than  all  ideas  of 
home,  of  the  Fairfield,  and  of  the  commander,  were 
forgotten  in  the  all-absorbing  thought  of  Francesca 
Mondora.  I  made  a  straight  wake  for  Castle  street, 
and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  entered  the  little 
court  where  a  month  before  I  had  taken  shelter 
from  the  Spanish  soldiers.  For  more  than  three 
weeks  I  had  received  no  intelligence  of  the  lady. 
I  approached  the  door  of  her  little  dwelling  with  a 
palpitating  heart,  and  opened  it  cautiously — she 
was  there.  I  bounded  into  the  apartment,  and  in 
an  instant  we  were  locked  in  each  other's  arms. 

"  Frank,"  said  I,  trembling  with  delight,  and 
putting  a  dollar  into  her  hand  as  I  released  her ; 
"take  that  and  buy  two  bottles  of  wine,  and  a 
dinner  for  you  and  me,  and  let  us  have  a  '  blow-out,' 
for  I  am  a  free  man !" 

My  fair  friend  received  the  gift  with  eyes  spark- 
ling with  pleasure,  and  glided  joyously  from  the 
apartment.  In  a  few  minutes  a  sumptuous  sup- 
ply of  wine  and  cakes  was  paraded  forth  on  her 
little  table,  and  both  seated  ourselves  to  a  harpy 
repast. 

There  was  something  so  agreeable  in  chatting 
34 


398        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

with  a  pretty  young  woman,  that  I  was  induced  to 
lelay  my  intended  visit  to  the  commodore  from 
time  to  time,  until  the  advancing  day  admonished 
me  of  the  necessity  of  action.  The  thought  also 
recurred  that  I  was  not  yet  discharged  from  the 
ship,  and  that  my  present  leave  of  absence  was 
granted  with  a  view  to  business,  rather  than  to 
pleasure.  My  return  on  board  might,  moreover, 
be  anticipated  by  the  captain,  under  whose  control 
I  still  felt  myself,  and  hence  I  began  to  think  it 
prudent  to  defer  my  matters  of  love  to  a  more 
appropriate  season.  Frank,  who  was  willing  to 
forego  any  personal  gratification  on  her  own  part, 
rather  than  see  me  bring  myself  into  difficulty  with 
my  commander,  no  sooner  learned  the  object  of 
my  errand,  than  she  began  to  reproach  both  her- 
self and  me  for  having  suffered  so  many  hours  to 
pass  away  unimproved.  With  a  mutual  embrace, 
and  a  promise  on  my  part  to  see  her  again  at  the 
earliest  opportunity,  I  left  her,  and  proceeded  on 
my  way  to  the  residence  of  the  commodore. 

On  retiring  into  winter  quarters,  the  commodore 
had  abandoned  the  squadron,  and  taken  up  his 
residence  on  shore.  His  mansion  was  situated  in 
one  of  the  most  elegant  portions  of  the  city ;  and 
as  I  was  personally  acquainted  with  his  cook  and 
steward,  I  felt  confident  of  meeting  with  a  favora- 
ble welcome  in  his  establishment,  so  far,  at  least, 
as  his  domestics  were  concerned.  On  opening  the 
kitchen  door,  I  discovered  the  cook  kicking  round, 


FIVE  TEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        399 

and  smacking  his  fists  among  the  culinary  in  the 
most  delightful  confusion,  and  giving  utterance  to 
a  tirade  of  sacres  and  diables,  in  all  the  bitterness 
of  French  anger.  Surprised  at  his  extravagant 
behavior,  I  ventured  to  ask  him  what  was  the 
matter,  upon  which  he  flourished  a  huge  carving 
knife  two  or  three  times  round  his  head,  kicked  up 
his  heels,  and  giving  a  valedictory  oath,  threw 
himself  backward,  puffing  and  blowing  into  a 
chair. 

"  Ah !"  exclaimed  he,  "  de  commodore  be  deter- 
mine to  kil-le  me !  Yesterday  he  discharg-ee  de 
steward — dis  day  he  send  away  de  otre  sarvant, 
and  now  he  ma-kee  me  de  cook,  de  steward,  de 
body  sarvant,  de  everyting.  Ah,  me  no  stan-dee 
him  !  Me  no  more  be  able  to  lif  de  one  hand  above 
de  otre !" 

"Well,"  answered  I,  "you  cooks  have  always  a 
greater  freedom  of  action  than  we  sailors  have. 
If  your  master  discharges  all  his  other  servants, 
and'  imposes  their  duties  on  you,  why  don't  you 
retaliate  on  your  master  by  dismissing  him  ?"  . 

"  Ah !  oui,  monsieur  sailor,  but  dat  ma-kee  de 
grand  miser-ee  !  De  commodore  mak-ee  me  work 
very  much ;  but  where  you  supo-see  me  trad-ee 
she  off  for  one  bettre  master  ?" 

My  notion  coincided  with  that  of  the  cook,  that 
a  better  master  than  Commodore  Morgan  was  not 
easily  to  be  found ;  and  after  'commenting  on  the 
many  indulgences  with  which  his  excellency  had 


400        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

favored  his  steward,  and  which  had  finally  led  the 
latter  to  trespass  on  the  liberality  of  his  master, 
the  cook  became  so  far  reconciled  to  his  hard  fate, 
as  to  think  that  by  the  use  of  a  little  medicine  in 
the  shape  of  good  Madeira  wine,  he  might  possibly 
keep  himself  alive  a  few  days  longer.  A  bottle 
was  accordingly  brought  forth,  and  after  each  of 
us  had  partaken  liberally  of  the  sparkling  contents, 
I  disclosed  to  the  cook  the  object  of  my  visit. 
Monsieur  Cook-ee  shook  his  head  doubtfully,  and 
observed  that  I  could  not  have  timed  my  errand  at 
a  more  unfortunate  period — that  the  commodore 
had  been  in  an  angry  mood  ever  since  the  banish- 
ment of  his  faithless  servants — and  that  his  temper 
had  that  afternoon  been  rendered  still  more  irasci- 
ble by  a  quarrel  which  had  broken  out  between 
him  and  preacher  Stewart,  the  chaplain  of  the 
squadron. 

"  Well,"  said  I,  after  some  hesitation,  "  an- 
nounce me  at  all  events ;  for  let  the  result  be  what 
it  will,  I  am  determined  to  know  it." 

The  cook  at  once  mounted  the  stairs,  and  after 
an  absence  of  a  few  minutes  returned.  He  twisted 
his  head  with  a  grave  look,  and  snapping  his  fingers 
significantly  over  his  left  shoulder,  motioned  for 
me  to  go  up. 

I  ascended  to  the  audience  chamber  with  a  beat- 
ing heart.  The  commodore,  a  fine,  portly  person- 
age, of  quite  a  prepossessing  appearance,  was 
pacing  the  room,  with  his  hands  locked  behind 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       401 

him  under  the  skirts  of  his  coat.  Without  seem- 
ing to  notice  my  presence,  he  nodded  towards  a 
chair. 

"  I  am  told  by  the  cook  that  you  are  from  the 
Fairfield,"  said  he,  still  pacing  the  room. 

"Yes,  sir,  I  am,"  answered  I.  "Captain  Tatt- 
nall  has  given  me  permission  to  refer  a  little  busi- 
ness to  you,  on  the  subject  of  my  discharge." 

"I  think  your  request  is  rather  premature," 
said  the  commodore,  pausing  in  his  walk.  "  The 
ship  has  not  yet  been  nine  months  from  home, 
and  it  seems  to  imply  a  want  of  perseverance  in 
any  sailor,  to  desire  a  dismissal  at  so  early  a 
date." 

I  perceived  from  this  reply  that  the  commander- 
in-chief  was  unacquainted  with  my  case,  and  hence 
I  now  briefly  detailed  to  him  the  circumstances 
under  which  I  had  entered  the  Brazilian  squadron 
at  Rio  Janeiro — the  manner  in  which  I  had  been 
deceived  by  Commodore  Nicholson  at  New  York — 
my  transfer  to  the  command  of  Captain  Gallagher, 
on  board  the  North  Carolina — my  cruise  on  the 
coast  of  Labrador,  in  the  sloop  Preble — my  en- 
trance and  services  on  board  the  line  of  battle-ship 
Columbus,  at  Boston — my  subsequent  transfer  and 
services  on  board  the  Fairfield — and  not  omitting 
the  mention  of  the  further  fact,  that  Captain  Tatt- 
riall  now  talked  of  detaining  me  to  the  end  of  the 
Fairfield's  cruise. 
34* 


402       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

The  commodore  paused,  and  for  a  moment  re- 
garded me  with  an  incredulous  look. 

"Does  Captain  Tattnall  know  that  you  have 
been  all  these  rounds  ?"  inquired  he. 

"  He  cannot  plead  ignorance  in  the  matter,"  re- 
plied I ;  "  for  I  made  a  full  statement  of  the  facts 
to  him  at  Hampton  Roads,  in  Virginia,  and  again 
recalled  them  to  his  recollection  to-day." 

"  The  Navy  Department  should  never  have  sent 
you  out^here,"  observed  the  commodore,  resuming  ' 
his  walk ;  "  and  Captain  Tattnall  is  certainly  not 
excusable  for  attempting  to  detain  you.  There  is 
a  difficulty  in  getting  you  home  from  here,"  added 
he,  thoughtfully.  "  However,  that  shall  not  hinder 
you  from  obtaining  your  discharge.  Go  directly 
on  board  the  ship,  and  tell  your  captain  to  discharge 
you  forthwith.  Mind  you  say  forthwith,  and  tell 
him  that  Jsaid  so." 

"  I  will,  sir,"  replied  I,  retreating  instantly  from 
the  room. 

On  reaching  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  I  heard  the 
voice  of  the  commodore  calling  after  me  to  come 
back,.  I  hastily  retraced  my  way  to  his  apartment, 
and  awaited  his  pleasure. 

He  seated  himself  at  a  table,  and  after  writing 
a  few  lines  to  Captain  Tattnall,  observed. 

"  Take  from  the  purser  what  money  you  may  think 
necessary  to  pay  your  expenses  home,  and  bring 
the  accounts  for  the  balance  of  your  wages  to  me, 
that  I  may  attest  them  to  the  Navy  Department. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       403 

The  French  commander  of  this  port-,  will,  any  time, 
at  my  request,  furnish  you  a  gratuitous  passage  to 
France.  At  Marseilles,  the  American  Consul  will 
aid  you  in  procuring  a  homeward  bound  ship ;  but 
be  careful  to  take  a  receipt  for  the  amount  of  mo- 
ney you  pay  the  captain  of  the  ship  in  which  you 
take  passage.  On  arriving  in  the  United  States, 
you  will  present  my  letter,  together  with  your  ac- 
counts, and  the  receipt,  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  at  Washington,  whose  duty  it  will  be,  to  pay 
you  the  balance  of  your  wages,  as  well  as  to  refund 
you  the  amount  of  money  paid  on  your  passage 
home.  Do  you  understand  that  advice  now  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  bowing. 

"  See  that  you  endeavor  to  follow  it  out  then — 
not  only  out  of  respect  to  your  commander-in-chief, 
but  because  it  is  the  best  possible  course  for  a  young 
man  in  your  situation  to  pursue.  There,"  added 
he,  handing  the  lines  he  had  just  written,  "  present 
that  to  your  captain,  and  you  will  no  longer  hear 
any  threat  of  detention." 

I  bowed  my  thanks,  and  gliding  from  the  apart- 
ment, hastened  down  stairs.  On  issuing  into  the 
street,  I  encountered  Mr.  Hunter,  to  whom  I  com- 
municated my  success,  and  showed  the  order  for 
my  discharge.  He  thought  it  unnecessary  for  me 
to  proceed  immediately  on  board  the  ship,  as  Cap- 
tain Tattnall  was  then  dining  with  Captain  Vor- 
heese,  on  board  the  sloop  Preble,  and  gave  me 
leave  to  remain  on  shore  until  the  following  day. 


404       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

I  accepted  the  indulgence  with  pleasure ;  and  as 
business  for  the  day  was  now  in  a  manner  sus- 
pended, I  repaired  again  to  Castle  street,  and,  for 
a  time,  forgot  the  world,  the  navy  and  its  turbu- 
lence, in  the  smiles  of  the  beautiful  Francesca. 

At  the  approach  of  night,  Frank  became  desirous 
of  having  me  attend  her  to  a  masquerade,  which 
was  that  night  going  on  at  the  theatre.  As  I  had 
never  in  my  life  witnessed  an  entertainment  of  that 
kind,  I  felt  very  strongly  disposed  to  accompany 
her,  but  there  seemed  difficulty  to  me  in  respect  to 
my  clothing.  Frank,  however,  offered  soon  to  over- 
come all  obstacles  on  that  score ;'  and  running  hastily 
across  the  street,  to  a  clothier's  establishment,  she 
soon  returned  with  a  well  filled  bundle  of  the  most 
fanciful  fineries.  In  ten  minutes  she  had  me  dressed 
out  in  a  scarlet  robe,  shining  with  spangles,  and 
clapping  on  my  head  a  rich  turban,  whose  feathers 
swept  the  ceiling,  led  me  across  the  room  in  all  the 
magnificence  of  an  eastern  prince. 

"  Now  de  face  of  de  grand  Sultan,"  laughed  she, 
drawing  a  mask  over  my  face  and  tying  it  behind 
the  ears ;  "  den  suppose  you  shake  hands  wis  you'r 
own  captain,  he  no  tell  what  great  man  come  to  de 
masquerade !" 

When  all  was  completed,  I  took  a  survey  of  my 
person  in  the  glass. 

"Frank  is  right,"  thought  I,  "it  would  puzzle 
the  captain,  or  any  body  else,  to  know  me  in  sucn 
H  kilter." 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        405 

Frank  now  hastily  adjusted  her  own  dress,  which 
was  that  of  a  Spanish  Gipsy,  the  boddice  being 
trimmed  with  blue  and  orange  silk,  interwoven  with 
threads  of  gold.  The  skirt  terminated  a  short  dis- 
tance below  the  knee,  displaying  her  slender  ankles 
and  spangled  feet  to  the  most  tempting  advantage. 
Her  hair,  which  was  of  the  most  luxuriant  growth, 
descended  down  her  back  in  two  long  plaits,  from 
the  points  of  which,  streamed  a  profusion  of  pink 
ribbons,  embracing  within  their  folds  two  miniature 
silver  bells,  while  her  blooming  cheeks  were  buried 
beneath  a  mask,  whose  inverted  lips,  crooked  nose, 
and  wrinkled  brow,  formed  a  most  ludicrous  con- 
trast with  her  snowy  arms  and  sylph-like  figure,  aa 
she  glided  across  the  floor  with  all  the  ease  and 
grace  of  an  expert  danseuse. 

Having  at  last  completed  her  toilet,  Frank,  in 
her  turn,  took  a  hasty  peep  at  herself  in  the  glass, 
and  drawing  her  arm  into  mine  with  a  satisfied  air, 
the  Sultan  and  the  Gipsy  directed  their  way  to  the 
theatre. 

We  found  the  doors  of  the  house  in  such  a  state 
of  blockade  from  the  crowd  without,  that  we  were 
some  time  in  obtaining  admittance ;  but  when  once 
in,  the  spaciousness  of  the  apartment  afforded  am- 
ple room  to  all.  Never  did  I  behold  a  more  diversi- 
fied or  joyous  assembly.  Every  visage  of  man  and 
beast,  and  every  costume  that  man  and  woman,  civ- 
ilized or  savage  ever  wore,  moved  in  rapid  review 
before  me.  Kings,  priests,  and  beggars  were  here 


406       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

— fat  friars  in  the  act  of  absolving  youthful  virgins 
of  their  sins — old  maids  and  juvenile  bachelors 
slily  ogling  each  other  through  quizzing  glasses  of 
mammoth  dimensions — ancient  goddesses  flying  be- 
fore the  ponderous  jaws  of  huge  monsters,  and 
burying  themselves  from  sight  in  the  winding  mazes 
of  the  dance — nuns,  with  downcast  eyes  and  solemn 
features  were  telling  over  their  beads  in  the  face 
of  the  devil  himself,  who  with  wagging  tail  and 
ears  erect,  was  stealthily  fastening  his  cloven  claw 
upon  them ;  while  every  avenue  presented  crowds 
of  military  and  naval  officers,  many  of  whom  were 
unmasked,  and  among  which  the  American  uniform 
formed  no  inconsiderable  feature.  The  music  was 
charming,  the  refreshments  abundant,  and  every- 
body appeared  to  have  forgotten  the  cares  and  toils 
of  life  amid  the  gay  throng  that  filled  with  joy  and 
mirth  the  passing  hours  of  the  night. 

While  my  gentle  partner  and  I  were  yet  amusing 
ourselves  by  a  walk  around  the  immense  hall,  the 
band  struck  up  a  waltz,  and  away  went  near  an 
hundred  couple,  whirling  the  vast  circuit  of  -the 
house  in  giddy  delight.  Frank  was  in  ecstacies. 
She  seized  my  arm  and  drew  me  suddenly  into 
the  throng,  and  though  I  knew  nothing  of  the 
dance,  round  and  round  I  went,  fully  confident 
that  my  partner  would'  bring  me  safely  through  ; 
and  bring  me  through  she  did,  but  with  such  a 
perfect  whirl  that  when  we  all  came  to  a  stand- 
still with  our  feet,  my  head  kept  spinning  onward 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        407 

with  the  vebcity  of  a  top.  Twice  I  staggered 
from  the  giddy  effects  of  the  exercise ;  and  the 
grand  Sultan  would  most  unquestionably  have  been 
floored  outright,  had  not  the  nimble  arm  of  the 
experienced  Frank,  sustained  his  equilibrium. 

During  our  second  dance,  I  was  accosted  two  or 
three  times  by  a  masked  gentleman,  who  kept  his 
attention  fixed  on  Frank.  I  suspected  him  to  be 
an  officer  of  the  American  squadron,  but  as  to  his 
rank,  I,  of  course,  could  form  no  conception.  I 
replied  to  his  questions  by  signs,  giving  him  to 
understand  that  I  could  not  speak  his  language, 
but  at  which  he  only  laughed,  and  said  I  could  not 
deceive  him,  as  he  knew  me.  My  confidence  in 
my  disguise  satisfied  me  that  I  was  unknown  to 
any  one  in  the  room,  but  my  partner,  and  hence  I 
persisted  in  remaining  silent  to  his  questions.  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  dance,  he  drew  me  aside  into 
one  of  the  passages,  and  after  asking  the  na.ue  of 
Frank,  with  which  I  did  not  choose  to  acquaint 
him,  desired  me  to  unmask. 

"  After  you,  sir,  if  you  please,"  said  I. 

He  immediately  withdrew  his  mask,  and  the 
countenance  of  Mr.  Williamson  presented  itself 
before  me. 

My  first  thought  was  to  knock  him  down ;  but 
recollecting  that  I  was  not  yet  discharged,  I  sup- 
pressed my  rising  passion  by  a  timely  effort.  J 
felt  conscious,  however,  that  so  far  as  language 
was  concerned,  my  position  now  enabled  me  to 


408       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

meet  him  on  equal  terms ;  and  there  seemed  some- 
thing pleasant  to  my  feelings  in  the  idea  of  having 
a  hearty  quarrel  with  him.  With  mingled  feelings 
of  contempt  and  indignation,  I  withdrew  my  mask, 
accompanying  the  act  with  a  sailor's  most  hearty 
salutation. 

"  There,  inspect  my  face,  blast  your  eyes,  and 
see  if  you  know  who  I  am  now." 

But  Mr.  Williamson  had,  apparently  no  disposi- 
tion to  quarrel.  Though  a  gentleman  of  war,  he 
was  at  present  strongly  inclined  for  peace.  He 
no  sooner  obtained  a  glimpse  of  the  face  that 
greeted  him  so  nautically,  than  his  name  at  once 
became  ffaines,  and  darting  hastily  from  the  pas- 
sage, he  disappeared  among  the  throng. 

Before  I  had  quitted  the  passage,  the  portly 
figure  of  Lieutenant  Boyle  crowded  into  the  en- 
trance, on  his  way  to  the  adjoining  drinking  saloon. 
He  recognized  my  face  at  a  glance,  and  after  a 
brief  inquiry  relative  to  my  success  with  the  com- 
modoie,  to  which  I  returned  a  favorable  reply,  he 
drew  me  along  into  the  saloon.  Here  we  encoun- 
tered Captain  Guysinger,  of  the  frigate  Brandy- 
wine,  to  whom  Mr.  Boyle  introduced  me  as  a 
particular  friend  of  his.  The  captain,  who  was 
sitting  quietly  in  a  chair,  smoking  a  cigar,  rose  and 
extended  his  hand,  observing  at  the  same  time, 
that  he  was  always  happy  to  become  acquainted 
with  a  friend  of  Mr.  Boyle's.  I  felt  extremely 
confused  at  such  an  unexpected  introduction,  but 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       409 

endeavored  to  mutter  some  kind  of  compliment  in 
reply.  Mr.  Boyle,  -with  a  comic  look,  relieved  my 
distress  by  calling  for  some  wine  ;  and  a  bottle 
and  glasses  being  placed  on  a  table  near  us,  we  all 
three  seated  ourselves. 

The  conversation  that  ensued,  was  at  first  lim- 
ited to  the  entertainments  of  the  evening,  but  by 
degrees  it  changed  to  other  topics,  and  the  sloop 
Fairfield  and  her  commander,  being  finally  brought 
upon  the  tapis,  Mr.  Boyle  observed  that  Captain 
Tattnall  had  very  unjustly  attempted  to  detain  me 
on  board  his  ship. 

"  Your  friend  here  ?"  exclaimed  Captain  Guy- 
singer,  in  surprise.  "In  what  way  was  he  con- 
nected with  the  Fairfield  ?" 

"As  one  of  her  crew,"  observed  Mr.  Boyle. 
"  He  came  with  her  from  the  United  States." 

"But  in  what  capacity?"  inquired  the  captain. 
"  I  do  not  recollect  of  ever  before  having  seen  his 
face  among  the  Fairfield's  officers." 

"  Quite  likely  not,"  replied  Mr.  Boyle,  "  for  he 
was  one  of  the  foremast  hands.  His  station  was — 
let  me  see — I  think  it  was  on  the  forecastle,  was 
it  not  ?"  added  he,  turning  to  me  for  an  explana- 
tion. 

Before  I  could  make  any  answer,  Captain  Guy- 
singer  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  casting  a  signifi- 
cant look  at  Mr.  Boyle,  which  seemed  to  rebuke 
him  for  having  presumed  to  compromise  the  dig- 
nity of  a  naval  captain,  by  an  introduction  to  a 
35 


410        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

commbn  Jack  tar,  retreated  hastily  from  the  sa- 
ioon. 

Mr.  Boyle,  perceiving  that  I  blushed  at  the  idea 
of  iny  presence  having  offended  the  commander  of 
the  Brandywine,  laughed  heartily,  and  filling  out 
two  fresh  glasses  of  wine,  handed  one  over  to  me. 

"  Drink  that,"  said  he,  "  and  be  merry  at  my 
expense,  for  the  joke  is  worth  a  treat.  The  cap- 
tain, you  see,  like  many  another  of  my  naval 
friends,  cannot  appreciate  merit  unless  it  appears 
before  him  clothed  with  a  commission  and  epau- 
lettes." 

I  drank  the  wine  as  a  parting  glass  to  Mr. 
Boyle.  A  few  days  more  were  to  find  me  far  from 
the  squadron,  and  it  was  questionable  whether  I 
would  again  see  him  before  my  departure.  Hence 
I  could  not  forego  the  present  opportunity  of 
expressing  to  him  my  sincere  thanks  for  the 
repeated  acts  of  unaffected  kindness  with  which 
he  had  favored  me.  A  warm  pressure  of  the 
hand,  as  we  both  rose  from  the  table,  was  his  only 
reply,  but  it  was  a  farewell  language  that  sent  a 
deeper  thrill  through  my  soul  than  the  most  com- 
plimentary words  could  have  done.  Twelve  long 
years  have  glided  away  since  that  parting  hour ; 
but  there  still  exists  a  green  spot  in  the  heart  of 
the  humble  sailor,  whom  his  kindness  once  blest, 
nourishing  forever  a  dewy  tear  to  his  remem- 
brance. 

On  returning  to  the   ball-room  I  encountered 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  TUB  MAST.        411 

Frank,  who,  like  me,  had  removed  her  mask,  and 
was  then  engaged  in  a  dance  with  Mr.  Hunter.  I 
drew  aside,  and  threw  myself  on  a  seat  in  one  of 
the  stage  boxes.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  dance 
the  young  lady  sought  me  out,  and  both  having 
become  weary  of  the  entertainment,  we  soon  left 
the  theatre  together,  and  returned  home. 

The  following  morning,  at  the  hour  of  nine,  I 
repaired  on  board  the  Fairfield.  Captain  Tattnall 
was  at  his  post,  and  the  purser  having  been  sum- 
moned to  the  cabin,  I  presented  the  order  for  my 
discharge.  The  sum  of  sixty  dollars,  which  I 
deemed  sufficient  to  defray  my  expenses  home,  was 
immediately  counted  down  to  me ;  and  while  the 
purser's  steward  was  engaged  in  making  out  a 
transcript  of  my  accounts,  I  proceeded  to  gath- 
ering up  my  personal  effects,  and  arranging  them 
in  a  chest  provided  for  me  through  the  kindness  of 
the  carpenter. 

All  things  being  finally  completed  for  leaving,  I 
began  to  take  my  farewell  of  the  ship's  company, 
who  were  on  all  sides  crowding  round  me,  and  pre- 
senting letters  to  be  conveyed  to  their  respective 
friends  in  America.  The  deep  interest  and  sym- 
pathy which  my  departure  was*every  where  elici- 
ting, became  exceedingly  touching  to  my  feelings. 
Officers  as  well  as  men  were  grasping  my  hands, 
and  heaping  upon  me  their  best  wishes,  while  my 
own  heart  was  melting  with  the  tender  emotions  of 
one  about  quitting  his  home  and  the  familiar  faces 


412         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

of  long  tried  friends  for  unknown  adventures 
among  strange  nations  and  stranger  lands.  Three 
days  Before  I  had  regarded  the  ship  Fairfield  as  an 
absolute  prison,  from  which  I  longed  to  be  released, 
and  now,  when  I  had  my  discharge  in  my  pocket, 
and  was  about  quitting  her  decks  forever,  the 
thought  of  never  seeing  her  again  was  so  touching 
as  to  almost  melt  me  into  tears.  Stephens,  for 
whom  I  had  conceived  a  real  friendship,  kept  near 
me  all  the  time  I  was  packing  up  my  clothes,  and 
when  my  chest  was  finally  conveyed  into  the  boat, 
he  stationed  himself  near  the  companion  ladder. 

"Well,  Nat,"  said  I,  extending  him  a  parting 
hand  as  I  mounted  the  steps,  "two  months  more, 
and  the  blue  waves  of  the  broad  Atlantic  will  be 
rolling  between  our  friendship." 

"  Would  to  God  that  I  could  accompany  you," 
exclaimed  he,  his  face  working  with  the  deepest 
emotion. 

"Why  so,  Nat,  are  you  not  happy  here  ?"  said  I. 

The  poor  fellow  made  no  reply,  but  the  big  tear 
that  he  dashed  hastily  from  his  eye,  told  me  plainly 
enough  that  his  thoughts  were  even  then  wandering 
among  the  far-off  cottages  of  New  England. 

"Never  mind,  Stephens,"  observed  I,  cheeringly, 
"  the  cruise  will  not  last  forever.  You  will  return  to 
America  some  day,  and  we  may  then  be  enabled  to 
renew  our  acquaintance  under  more  favorable  cir- 
cumstances." 

"  Ah !  I  fear  not,"  answered  he,  sorrowfully. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        413 

"  Some  strange  misgiving  tells  me  we  shall  never 
meet  in  America.    I  dreamed  last  night  of  hearing 
the  church  bells  tolling  a  funeral  knell  at  home 
and  my  heart  has  been  sad  ever  since.     When  do 
you  leave  Port  Mahon  ?" 

"  Not  before  the  latter  part  of  next  week." 

"  Then  I  will  try  and  meet  you  on  shore  some 
night  before  your  final  departure." 

"  Do  if  you  can,  Nat ;  and  should  you  obtain 
leave  of  absence  you  can  soon  hunt  me  out  by 
inquiring  after  me  at  our  old  hotel  in  Mahon." 

With  a  wring  of  the  hand  that  sent  a  pang  to 
my  very  heart,  the  young  man  turned  away,  and  I, 
hastening  down  the  ship's  side,  was  soon  in  the 
third  cutter,  and  rowed  out  of  sight  of  the  eager 
faces  that  greeted  me  with  a  last  token  of  farewell 
through  the  gun-ports  of  the  old  Fairfield. 


85» 


In  which  the  Adventures  of  our  young  Mechanic  draw  towards  a 
close. 


HAVING  at  length  obtained  my  long  desired  re- 
lease from  Uncle  Sam's  mess-room,  I  now  began 
to  direct  my  attention  to  the  means  of  accomplish- 
ing my  journey  to  the  United  States.  The  com- 
modore had  promised  to  procure  me  a  passage  to 
France ;  and  as  a  French  war  steamer  had  anchored 
in  the  harbor  of  Port  Mahon  the  day  following  my 
discharge,  I  took  upon  myself  the  trouble  of  ascer- 
taining her  place  of  destination.  I  was  informed 
by  the  French  consul  that  she  was  a  homeward- 
bound  vessel  from  Algiers,  but  had  been  compelled 
to  take  shelter  in  the  harbor  from  want  of  fuel — 
that  a  cargo  of  coal  from  the  continent  would  arrive 
to  her  relief  in  a  few  days,  upon  which  she  would 
resume  her  voyage  to  Marseilles.  These  facts  I 
communicated  to  the  commodore,  who  immediately 
attested  my  accounts,  and  promising  to  furnish  me 
all  my  necessary  papers  on  the  following  day, 
dismissed  me  with  an  additional  amount  of  whole- 
some advice. 

Feeling  myself  and  my  time  now  entirely  at  my 
(414) 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       415 

own  disposal,  I  wandered  abroad  with  the  feelings 
of  a  new  man,  and  endeavored  to  pass  my  time  in 
such  amusements  as  the  island  presented.  The 
greater  portion  of  my  first  day  on  shore  was  spent 
in  examining  a  suit  of  subterranean  vaults  on  the 
sea  coast,  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor.  At  night- 
fall I  returned  into  the  city,  and  being  attracted 
by  the  sound  of  a  guitar  to  a  well  lighted  room,  I 
approached  the  door,  which  was  thrown  open  for 
the  convenience  of  spectators,  and  witnessed  a 
brilliant  company  engaged  in  the  favorite  fandango. 
While  watching  the  progress  of  this  highly  pictu- 
resque dance,  a  hand  was  laid  on  my  arm,  and  on 
turning  round,  I  met  the  face  of  my  guardian 
angel,  Frank.  She  knew  that  I  had  near  seventy 
dollars  in  money  on  my  person,  and  the  dread  of 
my  being  robbed  by  the  profligate  soldiers,  had 
drawn  her  forth  in  search  of  me.  We  withdrew  to 
a  neighboring  hotel,  where  I  delivered  the  cash  in 
charge  to  her,  upon  which  she  again  left  me,  and 
retreated  to  her  own  dwelling. 

After  ordering  some  refreshments  from  the  bar, 
I  threw  myself  on  a  settee  that  stood  behind  a 
screen,  and  while  the  servant  was  mulling  the  wine, 
my  attention  was  attracted  by  a  slight  bustle  at 
the  door,  and  the  next  moment  Stephens  walked 
into  the  apartment.  -Surprised  and  delighted,  I 
drew  two  chairs  to  the  table,  and  calling  for  addi- 
tional viands  to  the  lunch  that  now  appeared,  we 
both  seated  ourselves  to  the  repast. 


416         FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"You're  just  in  time,  Nat,"  said  I.  "I  am 
happy  in  being  able  to  accommodate  you  with  a 
supper,  as  well  as  delighted  to  see  you." 

"  I've  had  one  supper  to-night  already,"  ob- 
served my  friend  ;  "  but  I  don't  care  to  go  a  second 
cargo  on  deviled  eggs  and  Bologna  sausages.  Pour 
out  a  bowl  of  that  hot  wine,  and  hand  it  this  way 
for  a  primer,  for  I'm  blasted  cold.  Swimming  on 
shore  in  January  is  not  quite  so  pleasant  as  diving 
for  rock  oysters  in  the  dog  days." 

"  Swimming  on  shore  !  Why,  what  do  you 
mean,  Nat  ?  I  hope  you  certainly  did  not  com- 
mit yourself  by  taking  French  leave  from  the 
ship  ?" 

"  I  certainly  did  nothing  else,"  replied  Stephens. 
"  I  asked  the  first  lieutenant  for  leave  of  absence 
till  to-morrow  morning,  but  it  was  refused  me.  I 
was,  however,  determined  to  pass  the  night  with 
you ;  and  so,  as  soon  as  the  men  crept  away  into 
their  hammocks  for  the  night,  and  the  ship  be- 
came quiet,  I  slid  slyly  down  the  cable,  and  struck 
out  for  the  shore  on  my  own  responsibility." 

"  I  am  really  sorry  for  you,  Nat,"  said  I.  "You 
ought  by  no  means  to  have  done  it.  You  will  be 
detected  and  punished,  mark  my  words ;  and  the 
cat-o'-nine-tails  are  a  less  pleasant  treat  than  even 
a  sea  bath  in  the  dead  of  winter." 

"  Come  any  other  punishment  than  flogging, 
and  I  might  be  able  to  go  it,"  muttered  Stephens ; 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        417 

"  but  no  cat-o'-nine-tails  shall  ever  sully  my 
back  !" 

"But  suppose  you  should  be  taken  foul,  as  I 
was  in  the  old  Columbus,  how  would  you  avoid 
them?" 

"  I  know  not,  nor  can  I  say  what  the  feelings 
of  other  men  may  be  in  regard  to  them ;  but  for 
my  own  part  I  would  as  soon  suffer  death,  as  the 
articles  of  war  say,  as  to  submit  to  the  degrada- 
tion." 

"  Perhaps  you  may  some  day  be  put  to  the  test, 
Nat,  and  then  we  will  see  whether 

The  sentence  was  arrested  on  my  lips  by  the 
clangor  of  arms  at  the  street  door,  and  before 
either  of  us  could  turn  in  our  seats,  two  midship- 
men from  the  Fairfield  bounded  into  the  room. 
My  looks  glanced  hurriedly  to  them  and  then  at 
the  object  of  their  search,  who  instantly  divining 
their  errand,  had  risen  to  his  feet.  The  blood  had 
receded  from  the  face  of  Stephens,  who  stood  with 
the  chair  in  his  grasp,  and  muttered  with  trembling 
lips  : 

"  Let  them  keep  off,  that's  all — I  give  them  fair 
warning.  Death  will  be  the  portion  of  the  first 
one  that  attempts  to  take  me  !" 

"For  God's  sake,  Nat,"  whispered  I,  "don't 
resist !  It  will  only  make  the  matter  ten  times 
worse,  and  perhaps  bring  your  life  in  danger." 

The  elder  midshipman  approached  the  table,  and 
grasping  Stephens  by  the  arm,  drew  him  into  the 


418        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

middle  of  the  room  with  a  hearty  curse,  while  the 
younger  wrenched  the  chair  from  his  grasp.  Their 
rudeness  irritated  the  already  awakened  anger  of 
the  sturdy  sailor,  who  raised  his  fist  menacingly, 
but  the  unexpected  entrance  of  one  of  the  lieuten- 
ants caused  him  to  suspend  the  blow.  Perceiving 
the  utter  folly  of  resistance,  he  cast  a  despairing 
look  to  me,  and  suffered  himself  to  be  conducted 
into  the  street,  where  he  was  immediately  surrounded 
by  his  official  guard,  and  led  off  in  the  direction 
of  the  bay. 

I  received  my  passport  from  the  commander-in- 
chief  on  the  morning  following  these  events,  and' at 
an  early  hour  repaired  to  the  office  of  the  French 
Consul  to  procure  his  endorsement  to  it,  and  to 
obtain  also  an  order  for  my  passage  to  Marseilles 
in  the  national  steamer  le  Veloce.  On  my  return 
I  took  a  stroll  on  the  high  grounds  fronting  the 
bay,  and  my  eyes  glancing  in  the  direction  of  the 
American  squadron,  I  noticed  the  flag  of  the  Fair- 
field  streaming  at  half  mast.  The  signal  denoted 
distress,  and  as  there  had  not  been  any  sickness  on 
board  to  have  caused  a  death,  I  was  at  a  loss  to 
comprehend  its  meaning.  Determined  to  unravel 
the  mystery,  I  darted  down  the  hill  to  the  landing, 
and  jumping  into  a  shore  boat,  was  soon  alongside 
the  ship.  On  gaining  the  deck,  the  first  object  that 
met  my  eye,  was  the  national  flag,  stretched  m 
folds  over  an  object  in  the  starboard  gangway. 
This  assured  me  at  once  that  a  death  had  really 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        419 

taken  place.  Without  addressing  a  word  to  any 
one,  I  hastened  immediately  forward,  and  on  with- 
drawing the  banner  from  the  corpse,  my  eyes  rested 
on  the  pallid  features  of  Stephens. 

Poor  fellow !  His  last  words  to  me  had  been 
made  good.  The  cat-o'-nine-tails  did,  indeed,  never 
sully  his  back !  The  dread  of  official  vengeance 
had  driven  him  to  suicide.  In  the  dead  of  the 
night,  when  all  waa  quiet,  and  the  sentry  stalked 
drowsily  at  his  post,  he  glided  silently  from  the  bow 
ports  of  the  vessel  and  plunged  into  the  waters  of 
the  bay.  The  splash  aroused  the  sentry,  and 
though  fifty  men  were  at  once  called  to  the  rescue, 
the  irons  incasing  his  ankles  and  wrists  dragged 
him  down  beneath  the  waters,  whence  no  effort 
could  bring  him  up  until  many  hours  after  the  vital 
spark  had  fled  forever. 

"Alas  !"  exclaimed  I,  as  I  gazed  once  more  on 
the  inanimate  clay  which  nine  hours  before  had 
moved  with  life,  health  and  volition ;  "  How 
strangely  has  his  dream  been  verified.  '  I  dreamt 
of  a  funeral  knell  ringing  at  home,'  said  he.  The 
church-bells  of  his  native  village  will  indeed  send 
forth  a  sorrowful  peal  to  the  ears  of  the  bereaved 
mother  and  sisters  of  the  unfortunate  young  sailor, 
in  far-off  New  England." 

On  returning  into  town,  after  my  visit  to  the 
Fairfield,  I  accidentally  encountered  the  mother  of 
Frank.  She  had  observed  me  for  several  days 
walking  about  the  streets  of  Mahon,  and  concluded 


420        FIVE  YEAT.S  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

that  I  must  be  in  high  favor  with  my  commander 
to  meet  with  such  continued  leave  of  absence.  As 
Frank  had  never  .deemed  it  important  to  enlighten 
her  in  respect  to  my  affairs,  she  as  a  matter  of 
course  knew  nothing  of  my  having  been  discharged, 
and  I  myself  had  no  object  in  acquainting  her  with 
the  circumstance.  She  joined  me  in  my  walk  to 
her  daughter's  house  and  renewed  her  project  of 
marriage,  but  I  told  her  I  had  not  yet  made  up  my 
mind  to  do  it.  She  then  became  anxious  to  know 
for  how  long  a  time  I  yet  proposed  to  consider  the 
subject.  I  observed  that  I  should  now  remain  a 
whole  week  in  company  with  Frank,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  she  should  most  certainly  be  made  ac- 
quainted with  my  determination.  This  answer 
seemed  to  please  her  extremely  well.  She  became 
quite  free  and  easy  in  her  discourse  during  the  rest 
of  our  walk,  and  finding  her  daughter  alone  in  her 
apartment,  she  immediately  commenced  rallying 
her  on  the  idea  of  making  a  good  Catholic  of  me, 
before  the  celebration  of  the  nuptials.  Having 
finally  exhausted  herself  in  agitating  her  own  con- 
ceits, she  left  us  to  ourselves,  and  returned  to  her 
own  lodgings. 

The  eight  days  following  the  reception  of  my 
passports  glided  away  ^without  learning  anything 
definite  respecting  the  sailing  of  the  Veloce.  A 
portion  of  this  time  was  spent  at  Port  Mahon  and 
a  portion  at  Georgetown,  the  steamer  lying  at  a 
point  nearer  the  latter  than  the  former  place.  On 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       421 

the  ninth  day  a  French  vessel  loaded  with  coal  en- 
tered the  harbor  and  commenced  discharging  a  por- 
tion of  her  cargo  into  the  Veloce.  Being  in  George- 
town at  the  time,  I  bounced  into  a  shore-boat  and 
boarded  the  steamer,  where  I  was  informed  that 
preparations  were  making  to  put  to  sea  at  daylight 
on  the  following  morning.  This  intelligence  made 
it  necessary  for  me  to  be  on  the  alert.  I  hastened 
immediately  to  Port  Mahon,  and  after  ordering  my 
chest  and  bedding  from  the  hotel  to  the  steamer, 
repaired  to  Castle  street  to  take  my  leave  of  Frank. 
As  mischief  would  have  it,  I  found  the  young  lady 
at  tete  a  tete  with  her  mother.  Feeling  the  neces- 
sity of  dispatch,  I  drew  Frank  aside  and  whispered 
my  communication  in  her  ear.  Though  anticipa- 
ting the  object  of  my  visit,  the  news  of  leaving 
startled  her,  and  her  mother  observing  her  agita- 
tion inquired  the  cause  of  it.  Perceiving  the  im- 
possibility of  a  further  concealment  of  my  actions, 
I  told  her  at  once  that  I  was  about  quitting  Port 
Mahon  and  had  come  to  bid  her  and  Frank  good- 
bye. 

"  Where  you  go  ?"  inquired  she,  in  surprise. 

"  To  America,"  answered  I,  "  to  see  my  mother 
and  sisters." 

"You  ta-kee  Frank  along,  and  no  ta-kee  me  ?" 
cried  she  in  alarm. 

"  No,"  said  I,  "  I  can  take  neither  you  nor 
Frank.  I  am  going  alone." 

She  threw  up  her  hands  with  a  wild  look?  and 
36 


422         FIVE  YEAKS  ELFC-IIE  THE  MAST. 

giving  a  loud  scream,  tumbled  insensible  back 
on  the  settee.  Frank  flew  to  her  assistance,  and 
raising  her  up,  began  chafing  her  neck  and  temples 
with  her  hands  but  her  efforts  produced  no  signs  of 
returning  animation.  A  smelling  bottle  was  next 
applied  to  her  nose  but  with  no  better  result. 
Frank  becoming  at  length  really  alarmed  at  her 
situation,  begged  of  me  to  hold  her  until  she  could 
procure  the  aid  of  a  female  neighbor.  During  her 
absence  from  the  room  the  old  lady  began  to  retch 
and  choke  as  if  laboring  under  a  fit  of  the  croup. 
Frightened  to  excess  at  her  ghastly  looks,  I  seized 
a  basin  of  cold  water  standing  close  at  hand,  and 
in  my  trepidation  (lashed  the  whole  contents  in  her 
face  engulfing  her  from  her  temples  to  her  waist. 
She  sprang  to  her  feet  as  if  a  dagger  had  entered 
her  heart,  and  while  the  water  streamed  over  the  floor 
from  the  skirts  of  her  dress,  she  commenced  pour- 
ing upon  me  the  most  withering  invectives.  She 
declared  that  I  was  a  perfect  savage — that  I  was 
unfit  to  have  a  wife — and  that  she  would  sooner 
see  Frank  laid  forever  in  her  grave  than  united  to 
such  a  rude  barbarian.  In  the  height  of  her  elo- 
quence Frank  entered,  upon  which  the  mother  aban- 
doned me  and  commenced  upon  her  daughter. 
She  insisted  on  my  instant  dismissal,  and  perceiv- 
ing that  Frank  only  smiled  at  her  vehemence,  she 
denounced  her  as  having  disgraced  herself  and  the 
memory  of  her  deceased  father  in  having  ever  coun- 
tenanced such  a  vile  monster.  The  neighbor  wo- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        423 

man  judging  from  the  turn  things  had  taken  that 
there  was  no  longer  any  need  of  her  aid,  hastened 
from  the  apartment,  and  the  old  tongue-lashing 
bedlamite  having  at  last  exhausted  her  strength  in 
bitter  denunciations,  burst  into  tears,  and  hobbled 
out  of  the  house. 

Feeling  the  importance  of  every  moment  of 
passing  time,  I  approached  Frank.  The  same 
feelings  which  I  had  experienced  in  taking  leave  of 
my  shipmates,  on  board  the  Fairfield,  now  returned 
upon  me  with  ten-fold  force.  Her  image  had  be- 
come so  deeply  interwoven  with  every  fibre  of  my 
heart,  that  to  leave  her,  was  like  tearing  asunder 
my  very  life.  I  enfolded  ,her  to  my  breast  in 
speechless  agony ;  and  as  the  thought  flashed  over 
my  mind,  that  our  parting  was  not  for  only  a  day, 
a  month,  or  a  year,  but  for  an  eternity,  my  eyes 
became  filled  with  tears.  Though  deeply  distressed 
herself,  the  trembling  girl  divined  my  thoughts, 
and,  knowing  the  necessity  of  separation,  sought 
to  allay  them. 

"Now,  Azando!"  said  she,  smiling  through  her 
own  tears,  "  me  know  you  like  me  very  much,  but 
don't  you  make  one  fool  of  you'n  self." 

The  words  were  few,  but  they  told  on  my  feelings 
more  coldly  than  a  December  shower  bath.  Could 
she  conceive  my  overflowing  feelings  the  affectation 
of  a  fool  ?  "Bah  !"  thought  I,  "  what  a  consolatory 
idea  to  one  who  believed  himself  beloved  !"  and 
hastily  planting  a  farewell  kiss  on  her  rosy  lips,  I 


424        FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

tore  myself  from  her  forever,  and  rushed  into  the 
street. 

The  national  steamer  Veloce,  was  the  flag-ship 
of  the  French  squadron  at  the  port  of  Algiers. 
The  Admiral  had  undertaken  his  present  voyage  to 
Marseilles,  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  home  a 
regiment  of  soldiers,  whose  term  of  servitude  had 
expired.  The  whole  regiment  was  at  supper  on 
the  spar  deck  of  the  steamer  at  my  appearance  on 
board,  and  soon  learning  that  most  of  the  compa- 
nies were  composed  of  German  and  Swiss  levies,  I 
was  not  long  in  making  myself  acquainted  at  some 
of  their  messes.  The  lively  and  familiar  manner 
in  which  all  appeared  "to  welcome  an  American 
sailor,  was  as  gratifying  to  my  feelings,  as  had 
been  the  kindness  and  attention  manifested  by 
their  countrymen  at  Naples. 

Before  I  had  been  half  an  hour  on  board,  a 
message  from  the  cabin  was  announced  to  me  in 
French,  not  a  word  of  which  could  I  understand. 
On  asking  an  explanation  from  one  of  the  soldiers, 
I  was  told  that  it  was  an  order  from  the  Admiral, 
desiring  my  presence  in  the  cabin.  Wondering  to 
myself  what  business  the  Admiral  could  have  to 
transact  with  me,  I  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
servant,  who  conducted  me  below.  Here  I  was 
ushered  into  a  spacious  apartment,  where  stood  a 
magnificent  table,  surrounded  by  some  forty  officers, 
both  naval  and  military.  On  my  appearance,  the 
Admiral,  a  fat,  fussy  little  personage,  with  a  round 


FIVE  YKAKS  LKFOKE  THE  MAST.        425 

cannon  ball  head,  hitched  round  in  his  chair,  and 
after  eyeing  ine  sharply,  said  something  in  his  own 
language  that  set  the  table  in  a  roar  of  laughter. 
I  felt  extremely  silly  at  my  awkward  situation,  and 
turned  my  face  aside  to  conceal  my  vexation. 

"  Parlez  vous  Frangais  ?"  said  the  Admiral,  ad- 
dressing me  with  a  comic  look. 

The  thought  struck  me,  that  by  some  means  the 
Admiral  had  become  acquainted  with  my  love  ad- 
ventures in.  Port  Mahon,  and  was  disposed  to  run 
a  laughable  joke  upon  me  in  the  presence  of  his 
officers. 

"  No  sir,"  replied  I.  "If  it  is  Francesca  Mondora 
you  mean,  I  know  nothing  about  her.  " 

"  Hah  !  Diable  !  II  ne  comprendre  !"  exclaimed 
he  witb.  a  disappointed  look,  while  another  laugh 
arose  among  the  officers. 

I  was  disposed  to  tell  him  that  if  he  wished  to 
converse  with  me,  to  procure  a  German  interpreter, 
but  knew  not  how  to  make  myself  understood  ;  and 
besides,  I  thought  if  he  had  only  brought  me  to 
the  cabin  to  excite  merriment  among  his  com- 
panions, the  less  we  could  understand  each  other 
the  better. 

"  Vous  come  vrom  one  America  ships  de  guerre 
le  Fairfield  ?"  said  the  Admiral,  with  an  attempt 
at  English. 

"Yes  sir,"  replied  I  bowing.  "  I  was  directed 
on  board  your  ship  by  the  French  consul." 

"  Oui !    Me  comprendre  all  dat,"  observed  the 


426       FIVE  YEARS -BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

Admiral  nodding  his  head.  "  Supo-see  vous  Yankee 
ship  de  guerre  got  one  goot  shose — eatee  him — 
vob  countrymans  call-ee  she  tobac — je  like  bite — 
here  the  Admiral's  English  unexpectedly  broke 
down,  upon  which  he  cast  an  imploring  look  to  his 
officers  for  aid. 

The  servant  who  had  conducted  me  below,  now 
addressed  a  few  words  to  an  officer,  who  sat  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  table.  His  communication 
doubtless  referred  to  the  circumstance  of  my  having 
conversed  in  German,  with  the  soldiers  on  deck, 
for  the  officer  instantly  addressed  me  in  that  lan- 
guage. An  explanation  now  followed,  by  which  I 
learned,  that  the  Admiral  was  in  want  of  some 
tobacco,  and  desired  to  know  if  an  article  of  the 
Jtind,  could  be  procured  by  sending  on  boa"rd  any 
one  of  the  American  ships  of  war. 

On  meeting  with  an  affirmative  answer,  the 
face  of  the  little  Admiral  brightened  up  with  a 
very  happy  expression  of  delight.  He  ordered  his 
gig  to  be  immediately  called  away  to  convey  me  to 
the  Yankee  squadron,  and  following  his  cockswain 
on  deck,  directed  him  to  remain  half  the  night  with 
me,  on  any  of  the  American  ships,  rather  than 
to  suffer  me  to  return  without  the  precious  weed. 

The  day  had  beer,  wet  and  drizzly,  and  the 
shades  of  evening  were  already  stealing  over  the 
bay  as  we  drew  in  sight  of  the  Fairfield.  The  old 
quarter-master,  Hull,  was  pacing  the  poop-deck, 
and  after  quizzing  us  through  his  spy-glass,  mo- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        427 

tioned  our  boat  to  the  starboard  side.  The  cock- 
swain followed  the  direction  of  the  old  sailor  s 
hand,  and  rounded  to,  under  the  quarter.  I  heard 
a  general  commotion  on  deck,  and  saw  the  side- 
boys  taking  their  stand  by  the  man-ropes,  as  if  the 
French  Admiral  were  himself  expected.  The  boat- 
swain commenced  piping  the  side  as  the  boat 
touched  the  ship  ;  but  on  seeing  my  familiar  face 
ascending  hastily  to  the  gangway,  he  ceased  ab- 
ruptly and  retreated  quickly  forward  in  company 
with  the  side-boys,  as  if  ashamed  of  the  honors  he 
was  paying  me.  Mr.  Hunter  laughed  heartily  at 
the  ruse  they  had  played  on  themselves ;  and  on 
being  made  acquainted  with  the  object  of  my  visit, 
sent  an  order  to  the  purser's  steward,  for  two 
pounds  of  his  choicest  tobacco. 

On  obtaining  the  object  of  my  journey,  and  re- 
ceiving a  few  letters  from  midshipman  Habersham 
to  his  father,  who  was  a  Georgia  senator,  I  took 
another  hasty  leave  of  some  of  my  old  shipmates, 
among  whom  was  Mr.  Turner,  and  returned  to  the 
French  steamer. 

It  was  dark  as  Erebus  by  the  time  we  regained 
the  Veloce,  and  the  Admiral's  steward  was  on  the 
alert  to  learn  the  result  of  my  journey.  I  gave 
him  the  tobacco,  with  which  he  instantly  disap- 
peared, while  I  in  the  meantime  proceeded  to  the 
selection  of  a  berth  in  the  forward  part  of  the 
shjp.  Before  I  had  completed  the  arrangement  of 
my  bedding  the  ship's  steward  again  sought  mo 


428        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

out,  and  drawing  me  along  to  the  afterpart  of  the 
vessel,  presented  me  a  second  time  in  the  cabin. 
The  Admiral  and  his  party  were  still  seated  at  the 
table,  which  was  now  covered  with  bottles.  Each 
had  received  a  small  portion  of  the  two  huge  plugs 
of  tobacco  I  had  brought,  and  were  evidently  de- 
bating with  each  other  in  respect  to  its  merits. 
The  Admiral  inquired  the  cost  of  it. 

"  Forty  cents  per  pound,"  said  I. 

"  How  much  is  that?"  asked  the  Admiral  of  his 
interpreter. 

But  the  officer  appealed  to,  seemed  as  ignorant 
of  the  sum  as  himself. 

"  Quatre  franc,"  said  I. 

''  Ah,  she  one  good  tobac,"  exclaimed  the  Ad- 
miral, wrapping  the  plugs  carefully  up  in  the  pa- 
per. "  Quatre  franc  !  Begar,  she  cheap — supo- 
Bee  she  cost  quinze  franc,"  and  putting  his  hand 
in  his  pocket,  he  threw  me  out  three  five  franc 
pieces. 

I  pocketed  the  cash  with  a  smile,  while  the  Ad- 
miral, pouring  out  a  bowl  of  the  most  sparkling 
•wine,  drew  me  to  the  table  and  motioned  me  to 
drink.  I  raised  the  bowl  to  my  lips,  and  after 
sipping  a  little,  set  it  back. 

"  Drink-e  !  drink-e !"  cried  the  Admiral.  "  Drink-e 
she  down.  She  no  hurt-e  peoples — she  be  goot  for 
de  tete,"  added  he,  clapping  his  hand  on  my  head. 
"  Suppo-see  you  go  drunk,  me  got  tousand  soldata 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       429 

aboard  le  bateau — hold-e  him  fast  dat  vous  no  fall 
in  la  mer." 

Grasping  the  bowl  a  second  time,  I  tossed  off 
the  whole  contents,  and  bowing  my  leave  to  the 
company,  I  made  a  hasty  retreat  from  the  cabin  to 
my  bed,  for  fear  that  the  Admiral's  soldats  might, 
otherwise,  be  indeed  called  into  requisition. 

At  the  first  appearance  of  the  dawn  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning  the  anchors  were  weighed,  and  the 
steamer  put  upon  her  course  to  the  northward. 
The  weather  was  favorable  for  a  fair  run  during 
the  greater  portion  of  the  first  day  of  our  voyage ; 
but  in  the  evening,  as  we  neared  the  gulf  of  Lyons, 
a  storm  came  pouring  out  of  the  north-west,  that 
for  twenty-four  hours  kept  beating  us  off  our  track 
in  the  direction  of  Sardinia.  A  change  of  wind 
occurred,  however,  in  the  evening  of  the  second 
day,  which  enabled  us  again  to  breast  up  for  the 
French  coast,  and  early  on  the  25th  of  January, 
we  entered  the  harbor  of  Marseilles. 

My  first  inquiries  on  quitting  the  steamer  were 
directed  in  search  of  American  ships ;  but  the 
official  dignitaries  of  the  French  marine  being  too 
illiterate  to  understand  English,  and  too  poor  to 
afford  an  interpreter,  yoked  me  up  between  two 
fat-pated  gendarmes  and  marched  me  off  to  the 
American  consul.  At  the  office  of  the  consul,  I 
got  released  from  my  guards,  for  the  sum  of  fifty 
cents,  and  was  once  more  left  to  my  own  control. 

I  was  informed  by  the  consul,  that  there  were 


430       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

but  two  homeward  bound  American  ships  in  the 
port,  neither  of  which  would  sail  under  ten  or 
twelve  days.  I  noted  the  names  of  both  the  cap- 
tains on  a  slip  of  paper ;  and  on  repairing  soon 
afterwards  to  the  harbor,  I  encountered  the  cap- 
tain of  the  ship  Marcia  Cleaves  of  Boston.  She 
was  posted  up  for  New  Orleans,  and  I  immediately 
secured  a  passage  in  her  to  that  place.  As  Cap- 
tain Thompson  did  not  purpose  sailing  before  the 
8th  of  February,  there  was  no  need  of  hurrying 
my  traps  on  board  his  ship;  and  seeking  out  an 
English  sailor's  boarding  house,  I  took  up  my  resi- 
dence in  it,  and  sought  to  pass  the  intermediate 
time  as  best  I  could. 

Marseilles  is  the  commercial  emporium  of  that 
portion  of  France  bordering  upon  the  Mediterra- 
nean. It  has  a  beautiful  and  spacious  artificial 
harbor,  which  is  entirely  cut  off  from  the  sea,  with 
the  exception  of  an  entrance  barely  wide  enough  to 
admit  single  ships.  The  area  of  land  on  which  the 
town  is  constructed,  is  of  basin-like  formation,  as- 
cending gradually  at  every  point  from  the  Mole. 
The  city  itself  consists  of  two  portions,  designated 
as  the  old  and  the  new  town.  Both  are,  however,  so 
intimately  blended  together,  as  not  to  be  cogniza- 
ble any  other  way,  than  by  the  difference  percepti- 
ble in  the  style  of  architecture  and  streets,  both  of 
which  present  a  more  contracted  and  antiquated 
appearance  in  the  old  than  in  the  new  portion  of 
the  town.  The  houses  in  the  new  parts  are  lofty 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       431 

and  commodious,  and  in  external  elegance,  super- 
cede,  to  my  taste,  even  the  more  lofty  edifices 
of  Naples ;  while  some  of  the  streets  are  orna- 
mented in  such  -a  manner  as  to  form  the  most 
magnificent  promenades.  The  whole  place  con- 
tains near  an  hundred  and  thi'rty  thousand  inhabi- 
tants— is  well  watered  by  numerous  and  tasteful 
fountains  artistically  arranged — and  presents,  in 
addition,  a  rich  display  of  monuments,  public 
grounds,  and  shady  walks. 

Captain  Thompson  having  at  last  arranged  his 
business  in  France,  set  sail  from  Marseilles  on 
the  8th  of  February,  and  after  a  lingering  voyage 
of  near  three  months,  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  river.  The  ship  was  here  taken  in  tow 
by  a  river  steamer,  and  after  another  day  and 
night  I  landed  at  the  port  of  New  Orleans. 

My  first  object,  on  my  appearance  at  New  Or- 
leans, was  to  find  a  vessel  bound  to  the  port  of 
Philadelphia.  I  soon  alighted  on  the  packet  ship, 
Chester,  which  I  perceived  was  posted  up  for  that 
place.  The  captain  was  in  want  of  just  one  hand 
more  to  complete  the  number  of  her  crew,  and  I 
immediately  shipped  on  board  his  vessel  as  a  com- 
mon sailor.  Without  seeking  either  a  boarding 
house  or  hotel,  I  forthwith  conveyed  my  luggage 
from  the  forecastle  of  the  Marcia  Cleaves  to  that 
of  the  Philadelphia  packet. 

The  ship  was  to  haul  down  the  river  on  the  fol 
lowing  morning,  and  as  my  services  were  not  needed 


432        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

on  board  till  the  hour  of  departure,  I  passed  the 
remainder  of  the  day  in  rambling  about  the  city. 
In  the  evening  I  repaired  to  the  levee,  and  feeling 
somewhat  hungry  after  my  walk,  J  seated  myself 
to  a  hasty  supper  in  the  market  house.  While  in 
the  act  of  discussing  my  lunch,  my  attention  was 
attracted  by  a  distressed  looking  woman  begging 
alms  of  a  sailor  who  occupied  a  seat  at  an  adjoin- 
ing table.  The  features  of  the  poor  mendicant 
were  so  haggard  and  woe-begone  that  it  was  painful 
even  to  look  upon  them  ;  and  when  he  to  whom  her 
complaint  was  made  met  her  appeal  with  a  blunt 
refusal,  a  despairing  gloom  stole  over  her  face, 
and  turning  from  him  with  a  tottering  step,  she 
moved  in  the  direction  'of  the  table  at  which  I  was 
sitting.  Though  partly  concealed  from  her  by  the 
intervening  crowd,  her  anxious  eye  failed  not  in 
singling  me  out,  and  reading  a  hope  of  benevolence 
in  the  national  uniform  which  I  still  wore,  she 
threaded  her  way  to  my  chair.  On  encountering 
my  looks  she  started  with  an  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise, and  sinking  down  on  the  pavement  muttered 
my  name,  while  tears  began  to  course  each  other 
down  her  cheeks.  There  was  a  language  in  the 
accents  of  her  broken  voice  that  bespoke  some  by- 
gone incident  of  my  own  life  ;  but  I  could  trace  no 
living  lineament  in  the  withered  face  before  me 
giving  the  least  clue  to  its  time  or  locality. 

"You  appear  to  know  me,  madam,"  said  I,  after 
trying  in  vain  to  recall  her  person  to  remembrance ; 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       433 

"  but  in  what  part  of  the  country  we  have  ever  met 
before,  I  am  entirely  at  a  loss  to  determine." 

"  It  is  the  first  time  we  have  ever  met  in  this 
country,"  muttered  she.  "  But  have  you,  indeed, 
forgotten  Rio  Janeiro  ?" 

I  hastily  ran  over  in  my  mind  the  names  of  the 
females  whom  I  had  known  in  Rio,  and  at  last  fixed 
on  one.  The  accent  was  still  perceptible,  the  same 
eye  was  there,  but  the  face  and  form,  alas  how 
changed  !  And  yet,  indeed,  it  was  no  other  than 
Liz — Scotch  Liz.  She  who  had  aided  in  sending 
poor  Mary  Mertle  to  an  untimely  grave  ;  she  who 
had  condemned  me  to  a  three  week's  thraldom  in 
the  Brazilian  navy.  My  thoughts  were  instantly 
fired  with  indignation,  and  I  inly  resolved  not  to 
aid  her  a  single  cent.  She  doubtless  read  my  deter- 
mination in  my  looks,  for  she  suddenly  commenced 
weeping  afresh. 

'  Well  Liz,"  said  I,  resuming  my  coffee,  "your 
name  recalls  but  few  pleasing  associations.  Do 
you  remember  the  press-gang  ?  Do  you  recollect 
the  three  .weeks  you  gave  me  over  in  charge  to  the 
captain  of  the  Prince  Imperial  ?  Do  you  suppose 
those  rare  services  can  give  you  a  very  strong 
claim  on  my  benevolence  ?" 

"  Oh,  do  not  recall  the  recollections  of  the 
past,"  exclaimed  she,  claspirfg  her  hands  wildly. 
"  If  you  could  only  know  one-half  the  wretched- 
ness I  suffered  during  my  last  two  years'  stay  at 
Rio  you  would  forgive  me.  And  then  the  horrors 
37  ' 


434        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

I  endured  in  coming  to  this  place — and  even  here 
Oh  God !    I  have  been  but    too  dreadfully  pun- 
ished." 

The  wretched  creature,  as  if  overcome  with  des- 
pair, sunk  back  with  a  convulsive  struggle  on  the 
ground.  Two  of  the  market  women  raised  her  up 
to  a  seat,  and  commenced  applying  restoratives. 
Having  lost  all  further  appetite  for  supper,  I  rose 
from  the  table,  and  after  slipping  a  dollar  into  the 
hand  of  one  of  the  women,  to  be  given  to  Liz  on 
her  recovery,  I  made  a  hasty  retreat  from  the 
market  house,  and  proceeded  on  board  the  ship 
Chester. 

The  Chester  sailed  from  New  Orleans  on  the 
morning  of  the  first  day  of  May,  1842,  and  after 
a  run  of  twenty  days  arrived  within  sight  of  the 
Delaware  capes.  The  northerly  winds  for  some- 
time impeded  our  progress  up  the  river,  but  after 
two  days'  incessant  beating,  all  obstacles  of  wind 
and  tides  were  finally  surmounted,  and  I  was  once 
more  safely  landed  at  the  beautiful  metropolis  of 
my  own  native  state,  after  an  absence  of  precisely 
five  years. 

It  was  yet  early  in  the  morning  when  the  Ches- 
ter was  drawn  into  dock,  and  Captain  Vandyke, 
paying  me  off  immediately  after  she  was  moored, 
I  repaired  forthwith*  to  the  railroad  depot  in  Broad 
street,  and  mounting  the  southern  train  of  cars, 
arrived  at  Washington  city  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day. 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        435 

On  entering  the  principal  street  of  the  town,  I 
bounded  into  the  first  fashionable  hotel  that  pre- 
sented itself,  and  overlooking  the  congressional 
list,  noted  down  the  address  of  Senator  Habersham, 
of  Georgia.  Congress  being  still  in  session,  I 
Ballied  abroad  in  search  of  his  boarding-house. 
Knowing  nothing  respecting  the  names  of  the 
streets  or  avenues  of  the  town,  I  was  obliged  to 
make  occasional  inquiries  in  regard  to  the  object 
of  my  search,  and  was  eventually  directed  to  an 
elegant  mansion,  situated  in  a  quiet  and  beautiful 
portion  of  the  city.  Being  in  a  good  deal  of  a 
hurry,  I  approached  the  door,  and  rung  the  bell 
somewhat  impatiently. 

Presently  a  lady  of  rather  portly  dimensions 
presented  herself,  who,  as  soon  as  her  eye  became 
fixed  on  my  naval  uniform,  uttered  a  loud  scream, 
and  retreated  hastily  to  the  opposite  extremity  of 
the  hall.  Calling  at  the  top  of  her  voice  to  a  big 
negro  who  entered  at  the  back  door,  she  desired 
him  to  advance  and  see  what  that  impudent  sailor 
•wanted.  Cuffy,  whose  uncouth  appearance  pre- 
sented, to  my  mind,  far  greatef  cause  for  alarm 
to  a  lady  than  my  own,  approached  me  with  a  look 
that  seemed  to  threaten  a  kick-out ;  but  I  stood  my 
ground  without  flinching,  determining  to  see  the 
upshot  of  the  proceedings,  as  well  as  the  senator. 
On  his  demanding  to  know  the  object  of  my 
errand,  I  told  him  that  it  was  10  see  Mr.  Haber- 
sham. 


436       FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

"  He  is  not  in."  cried  the  fat  lady,  advancing 
forward  under  the  lee  of  the  negro,  "  nor  will  he 
be  for  an  hour;  and  besides,  Mr.  Habersham  is  not 
accustomed  to  seeing  sailors  !" 

"Neither  am  I  accustomed  to  seeing  senators, 
madam  !"  answered  I,  nettled  at  her  haughty  beha- 
vior. "  So  you  perceive  that,  on  our  meeting, 
the  breach  of  decorum  will  be  mutual  between 
us." 

Leaving  the  boarding-house  of  the  senator,  I 
retraced  my  way  to  the  lower  end  of  the  city,  and 
entered  the  rotunda  of  the  capitol.  After  spending 
near  two  hours  in  rambling  through  the  galleries 
and  halls  of  this  magnificent  edifice,  I  returned 
into  the  city,  and  once  more  presented  myself  at 
the  temporary  residence  of  the  honorable  senator. 
The  landlady  admitted  me  this  time  with  a  better 
grace,  though  not  without  some  shy  scruples,  and 
after  discovering,  from  a  short  conversation,  that  I 
was  not  an  actual  savage,  she  became  desirous  of 
knowing  my  business  with  the  senator.  While 
pushing  her  inquiries  to  this  point,  an  elderly  gen- 
tleman with  gray  hair  walked  into  the  apartment, 
whom  the  lady  immediately  addressed  by  the  name 
of  Mr.  Habersham. 

On  learning  that  I  was  from  the  Mediterranean, 
the  honorable  senator  divined  the  object  of  my 
visit,  and  leading  the  way  into  an  adjoining  parlor, 
began  asking  me  a  dozen  questions  relative  to  his 
son.  I  endeavored  to  answer  them  one  by  one, 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.       437 

but  the  landlady,  who  had  followed  close  upou  our 
heels,  interrupted  me  with  so  many  inquiries  di- 
rected to  the  senator,  that  the  latter,  appreciating 
the  difficulty  of  explaining  any  thing  before  a 
woman  whose  whole  composition  appeared  to  be  a 
category  of  words,  suddenly  bundled  up  his  letters, 
and  motioning  me  to  follow,  led  the  way  up  stairs 
to  his  own  room,  where  he  secured  us  both  from 
further  interruption  by  locking  the  door. 

I  remained  to  a  late  hour  closeted  with  the 
senator,  who  gave  me  some  useful  instruction  rela- 
tive to  my  business  with  the  Navy  Department,  aa 
well  as  a  letter  to  the  principal  director.  When 
about  taking  my  departure,  he  observed  that  my 
own  apparent  accomplishments,  together  with  the 
letters  of  his  son,  had  given  him  such  confidence  in 
me,  that  he  could  scarce  permit  me  to  leave  Wash- 
ington without  doing  something  in  my  behalf.  He 
then  desired  to  know  if  there  were  not  some  office 
in  the  gift  of  the  Navy  Department  that  I  could 
fill  with  credit  to  myself  and  honor  to  the  govern- 
ment. If  I  could  suggest  any  such,  he  was  willing 
to  become  instrumental  in  procuring  it  for  me. 
But  I  was  too  recently  from  the  navy,  to  think  of 
entering  it  again ;  and  besides,  there  was  no  office 
which  would  just  then  have  harmonized  with  my 
views,  aside  from  that  of  a  lieutenant  of  marines, 
and  I  was  conscious  that  there  were  too  many  ap- 
plicants for  offices  of  this  description  among  the 
sons  of  influential  politicians,  for  a  mechanic  to 
37* 


438         FIVE  YEAKS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

hope  of  ever  attaining  one.  Hence  I  respectfully 
declined  the  proffered  aid  of  the  honorable  senator, 
without  even  suggesting  to  him  my  wishes ;  and 
thanking  him  warmly  for  the  favorable  estimate  he 
was  pleased  to  place  upon  my  merits,  took  my 
leave  of  him  for — ever. 

At  the  hour  of  nine  o'clock  on  the  following 
morning,  I  repaired  to  the  Navy  Department,  and 
presented  myself  and  my  accounts  before  the  chief 
director.  Thence  I  was  ordered  to  the  fourth 
auditor,  who  gave  me  a  draft  for  the  amount  of 
wages  yet  due  me,  on  the  Navy  Agent.  One  hour 
afterwards  I  drew  my  cash  at  the  counter  of  the 
treasury,  and  having  now  no  more  business  to 
transact  at  the  capital,  in  the  afternoon  I  repaired 
to  the  railroad  depot,  and  resuming  a  seat  in  the 
same  car  in  which  I  had  travelled  the  day  before, 
was  dislodged  in  Philadelphia  early  on  the.  follow- 
ing morning 


Containing  the  writer's  final  leave  of  the  reader  as  well  as  of  hi* 

mistress. 

IT  was  at  the  close  of  a  beautiful  May  day  that 
a  young  couple,  a  lady  and  gentlemen,  might  have 
been  seen  sitting  in  the  back  parlor  of  an  elegant 
house  on  the  south  side  of  Walnut  street,  Philadel- 
phia. The  furniture  of  the  apartment  was  arranged 
with  neatness  and  taste,  and  in  the  costliness  of  its 
material  and  finish  betokened  the  proprietor,  if  not 
wealthy,  at  least  a  zealous  votary  of  fashion. 
There  was  nothing  very  striking  in  the  personal 
appearance  of  either  of  the  inmates.  Both  were 
dressed  according  to  the  fashion  of  the  times,  and 
it  would  have  required  a  person  of'  nice  judgment 
to  have  distinguished  between  the  ages  of  the  two. 
Few  as  were  the  years  of  either  it  was  evident  that 
time  had  already  dealt  severely  with  the  lady. 
Pretty  she  had  unquestionably  been,  for  the  lines 
of  former  beauty  were  still  here  and  there  legibly 
traced  upon  her  features,  but  the  sunken  cheeks 
and  sharpened  visage  denoted  her  indebted  for  her 
present  bloom  more  to  the  artificial  coloring  of 

(439) 


440        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

rouge  and  powders  than  to  the  roseate  hue  of  health. 
The  young  man,  who  sat  a  short  distance  apart 
from  the  lady  regarded  her  with  saddening  thoughts, 
and  when  at  last  she  met  his  looks  with  a  half  mel- 
ancholy smile,  displaying  to  his  sight  a  row  of  the 
finest  artificial  teeth,  he  rose  and  approached  her 
with  a  trembling  step. 

Reader,  would  you  know  who  this  interesting 
young  couple  were  ?  Be  patient  and  you  will  yet 
learn.  The  one  was  the  mechanic  sailor  who  three 
days  before  had  returned  from  the  Mediterranean, 
and  the  other  was  the  young  lady  to  whom  five 
years  before  he  had  addressed  his  love-letter  on  the 
eve  of  his  departure  from  America. 

Alas  !  how  our  affections  change  !  She  whose 
name  was  sufficient  during  the  first  year  of  my  ab- 
sence, to  call  up  the  loveliest  sensations  of  joy  and 
hope,  had  now  become  an  object  of  perfect  indiffer- 
ence to  me,  and  I  felt  myself  under  a  greater 
restraint  in  her  presence  than  I  would  have  done 
in  that  of  an  entire  stranger.  Yet  I  could  not 
refrain  from  visiting  her.  I  deemed  the  present 
interview  a  necessary  one,  and  resolved  to  hurry 
through  with  it  as  expeditiously  as  possible. 

"Susan,"  said  I,  rising  from  her  side  and  pacing 
the  floor  restlessly,  "  five  years  have  indeed  worked 
considerable  of  a  change  in  both  of  us.  You  know 
there  was  a  time  when  we  were  less  strange  to  each 
other — when  we  had  our  walks  and  our  conversa- 
tions, and  wnen  the  hopes  of  both  of  us  were,  per- 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        441 

haps,  blessed  •with  brighter  visions   of  happiness 
than  at  present?" 

"Yes,"  responded  she,  with  downcast  looks.  "I 
have  often  thought  of  those  brighter  days  during 
your  absence." 

"And  yoifcremember,  Susan,"  continued  I,  without 
daring  to  look  at  the  lady,  "  that  at  that  time — I 
mean  at  our  former  acquaintance — there  was  a  sort 
of  reciprocal  prom — I  scarcely  know  what  to  call 
it — a  kind  of  mutual — hem — between  us  ?" 

"Yes,"  muttered  she,  coloring  deeply,  "I  believe 
there  did  something  of  that  nature  pass  between  us." 

"  And  do  you  still  hold  me  to  the  engagement  ?" 
inquired  I. 

The  poor  girl  was  completely  bewildered,  and  in 
her  extreme  confusion,  appeared  utterly  at  a  loss 
how  to  answer.  I  seated  myself  again  at  her  side 
and  taking  her  hand  cheerfully  in  mine,  told  her  to 
give  me  my  sentence  and  let  me  depart. 

"  Come,"  said  I,  encouragingly.  "  If  you  have 
entered  into  other  engagements  tell  me  so.  My 
long  absence  and  neglect  would  render  such  an  act, 
on  your  part,  perfectly  excusable." 

"Well,"  muttered  she,  dropping  her  head  on  my 
shoulder  to  conceal  her  blushes,  "  to  tell  the  truth, 
there  are  other  engagements  which  I  fear  cannot 
now  be  easily  broken  off." 

"Thank  you!  A  thousand  thanks!"  exclaimed 
I,  jumping  up  as  light  as  a  feather.  "We  will 
then  advert  no  longer  to  old  times,  but  look 


442        FIVE  YEA 'as  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

brightly  towards  the  future,  ami  I  give  you  my 
pledge  never  to  interfere  with  any  attempt  to  rival 
the  affections  of  your  present  lover." 

"  But  you  will  call  and  see  me  again,  to-morrow 
night,  will  you  not  ?"  said  she,  as  we  gained  the 
hall  door. 

"I  fear  not,"  said  I.  "To-morrow  night  I 
shall  he  many  miles  hence — perhaps  in  some  dis- 
tant portion  of  the  state,"  and  with  a  parting  smile 
from  Susan,  that  Drought  to  my  remembrance  a 
gleam  of  the  beauty  of  former  days,  I  descended 
into  the  street  and  sought  my  way  to  Franklin 
Place. 

To-morrow  night  did  indeed  find  me  an  hundred 
miles  on  my  journey  westward,  to  the  affectionate 
embrace  of  those  dear  ones,  whose  sacred  images 
for  eight  long  years,  had  been  the  nightly  visitants 
of  my  dreams. 

And  now,  gentle  reader,  before  I  drop  the  cur- 
tain of  my  humble  drama,  permit  me  to  indulge 
in  a  parting  word  with  yourself.  You  have  traced 
my  career  through  five  years  of  bustling  adventure, 
turbulence  and  strife — you  have  seen  me  subjected 
to  cruelty,  privation  and  disappointment — cut  off 
from  the  intercourse  of  society — often  friendless — 
always  poor — but  never  dispirited.'  If  the  past 
has  had  its  share  of  evil,  it  has  also  been  attended 
with  good  —  it  has  brought  with  it  its  store  of 
knowledge. 

As  to  making  a  fortune,  the  idea  has  long  since 


FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST.        443 

passed  away  from  my  mind.  Experience  has  taught 
me  that  he  is  not  always  the  happiest  man  who 
sits  on  the  biggest  chest  of  dollars  ;  nor  is  content- 
ment to  be  at  all  times  measured  by  land  surveys 
and  wire  fences.  There  is  often  as  much  content- 
ment to  be  found  in  an  humble  cottage,  as  in  a 
marble  palace ;  and  he  who  has  the  faculty  of 
adapting  his  tastes,  inclinations  and  thoughts  to 
any  condition  in  life,  enjoys  a  more  valuable  store 
of  wealth  than  if  in  possession  of  the  untold  riches 
of  California.  This  faculty  I  profess  to  have,  in 
part,  acquired ;  and  though  still  in  plain  shirt 
sleeves,  and  laboring  away  on  the  bench,  I  am  yet 
happy  in  working  out  a  more  useful  life  than  the 
non-producing  millionaire,  who  shields  his  dignity 
behind  a  fortification  of  golden  eagles. 

As  to  the  sea,  the  experience  of  the  past,  awakens 
but  little  desire  of  returning  to  it ;  but  I  feel  no 
hesitation  in  saying,  that  were  I  once  more  about 
to  encounter  its  yesty  waves,  as  a  seaman,  I  should 
prefer  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  ships  to  any  vessel  that 
sails  the  ocean ;  not  because  of  the  emoluments, 
for  they  are  slender  indeed,  but  because  there  is  a 
joyous  animation  pervading  ships  of  war  that  super- 
cedes  in  the  heart  of  a  seaman,  all  consideration 
of  dollars  and  cents.  There  is  a  pride  in  the 
American  bosom  that  burns  with  nationality,  and 
the  sailor  feels  it  above  all  others.  He  loves  his 
country  and  his  flag ;  and  if  at  times  he  meet  with 
harsh  treatment  in  their  service,  he  consoles  him 


444        FIVE  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST. 

self  with  the  reflection  that  he  has  also  experienced 
that  which  is  good.  If  the  navy  has  an  occasional 
Nicholson,  it  has  also  its  Morgans  and  McKeevers  ; 
if  it  present  now  and  then  a  Gallagher,  it  yields 
also  its  Breeces,  and  its  Tattnalls ;  if  it  can  pro- 
duce a  Whittle^  it  can  also  furnish  its  Boyles  and 
Hunters — in  short,  it  yields  on  the  whole,  a  greater 
amount  of  good  than  of  evil ;  and  in  no  situation 
of  life  can  we  always  hope  to  meet  with  the  former 
wholly  unalloyed  by  the  latter. 

Our  government  like  our  country,  is  progressive, 
and  swings  the  axe  of  improvement  over  the  navy 
as  well  as  elsewhere.  Many  rotten  timbers  have 
been  lopped  from  it  during  the  last  ten  years,  and 
much  more  will  yet  be  done.  The  navy  will  be 
gradually  renovated  until  its  moral  elevation,  as 
well  as  its  discipline,  will  attain  to  a  standard 
compatible  with  republicanism  —  until,  like  our 
"clipper  ships,"  it  will  excel  everything  of  a  like 
kind  in  the  old  world,  until  its  vessels  will  crowd 
themselves  on  every  sea  more  numerously  than  the 
stars  that  glitter  from  its  flag — and  until  finally,  it 
will  be  the  pride  and  glory  of  every  native  and 
adopted  seaman,  to  claim  affinity  with  its  service, 
and  to  stand  up  before  the  world,  in  the  full  dignity 
of  a  freeman,  exclaiming  among  his  fellows,  "  3 
too,  am  an  American  sailor  !" 

THE  END. 


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